You are doing an experiment to learn where carbon atoms are…

You are doing an experiment to learn where carbon atoms are incorporated into the glucose molecule during gluconeogenesis. You label bicarbonate (HCO32-) with radioactive carbon (C*). Which enzyme will incorporate the labeled C*O2 into a substrate molecule? Will this labeled carbon end up in the glucose molecule?

Fava beans contain the compound, vicine, which can cause oxi…

Fava beans contain the compound, vicine, which can cause oxidative damage to cell membranes and proteins by creating reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as the superoxide radical (O2· −). What is a product of the pentose phosphate pathway that protects cell membranes and proteins from oxidative damage when an individual consumes fava beans?

Crib death of infants when fasting (i.e., when sleeping and…

Crib death of infants when fasting (i.e., when sleeping and not eating – therefore a low blood glucose condition) is also known as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS was often blamed on lack of proper care by the parents of the child. It is now known that a significant number of SIDS cases are caused by a genetic defect in the gene that codes for fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in fatty acid β-oxidation (see question 34 for this reaction). If this enzyme is defective, energy from fatty acids is not available and gluconeogenesis is inhibited resulting in severe and life-threatening hypoglycemia (low blood glucose). Why the hypoglycemia?

In an experimental system for the study of the electron tran…

In an experimental system for the study of the electron transport chain, electrons can be supplied by adding ascorbate as an artificial electron donor. When using ascorbate in these experiments it is necessary to include an electron acceptor such as TMPD (an intermediate electron acceptor) that accepts electrons from ascorbate and then donates electrons to cytochrome c. In this experimental system it would be possible to transfer electrons directly to which complex?