Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

22. Carbohydrate Metabolism

Total Energy from Glucose

GOB Chemistry

22. Carbohydrate Metabolism

Total Energy from Glucose

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3:07 minutes

Problem 85

Textbook Question

Is the same net production of ATP observed in the complete oxidation of fructose as is observed in the complete oxidation of glucose? Why or why not?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the context: Both fructose and glucose are monosaccharides with the molecular formula C₆H₁₂O₆. They are metabolized through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP. The question asks whether the net ATP production differs between the two during complete oxidation.

Step 1: Recall that glycolysis is the first stage of carbohydrate metabolism. Both glucose and fructose enter glycolysis, but fructose can enter at different points depending on the tissue. In the liver, fructose is converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and glyceraldehyde, which are intermediates in glycolysis. In other tissues, fructose is phosphorylated to fructose-6-phosphate, which directly enters glycolysis.

Step 2: Analyze the ATP yield from glycolysis. For both glucose and fructose, glycolysis produces 2 ATP molecules (net) and 2 NADH molecules per molecule of sugar. This step is identical for both sugars, assuming fructose enters glycolysis as an intermediate.

Step 3: Consider the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. After glycolysis, the pyruvate produced is converted to acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle. Each acetyl-CoA generates 3 NADH, 1 FADH₂, and 1 GTP (equivalent to ATP). These electron carriers (NADH and FADH₂) are then used in oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP. Since both glucose and fructose are fully oxidized to CO₂, the ATP yield from these stages is the same for both sugars.

Step 4: Conclude that the net ATP production is the same for the complete oxidation of fructose and glucose. This is because both sugars are metabolized through the same pathways (glycolysis, citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation) and yield the same number of ATP molecules per molecule of sugar.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

ATP Production

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy carrier in cells. During cellular respiration, glucose and fructose undergo oxidation to produce ATP. The efficiency of ATP production can vary depending on the substrate used, as different molecules enter metabolic pathways at different points, affecting the total yield of ATP.

Glycolysis Pathway

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose and fructose into pyruvate, producing a net gain of ATP and NADH. While both sugars can enter glycolysis, fructose is metabolized differently, leading to variations in the amount of ATP generated during subsequent steps of cellular respiration.

Metabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathways are sequences of chemical reactions occurring within a cell. The complete oxidation of glucose and fructose involves different pathways, including glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding these pathways is crucial for comparing the ATP yield from the oxidation of different carbohydrates.