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Multiple Choice
In the glycolytic conversion of one molecule of glucose to two molecules of pyruvate (ignoring any subsequent fermentation or mitochondrial shuttles), how many molecules of NADH are produced per glucose?
A
2 NADH
B
0 NADH
C
4 NADH
D
1 NADH
0 Comments
Verified step by step guidance
1
Recall the overall glycolysis pathway where one molecule of glucose (6 carbons) is converted into two molecules of pyruvate (3 carbons each).
Identify the step in glycolysis where NADH is produced: this occurs during the oxidation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate, catalyzed by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.
Note that for each molecule of glucose, two molecules of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate are produced, so the NADH-producing step happens twice per glucose molecule.
Since each oxidation step produces one molecule of NADH, multiply the number of NADH molecules produced per glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate by two to account for both molecules derived from one glucose.
Conclude that the total NADH molecules produced per glucose during glycolysis is the product from the previous step.