Why do muscles need to be able to generate ATP under aerobic and anaerobic

conditions?
Muscles initially function aerobically. However, when bursts of energy are
required, the oxygen supply doesn't meet the demand. In order to generate
sufficient ATP for energy demands during periods of extreme activity, the muscle
depends on activity-dependent anaerobiosis.
Why is it more sensible for phosphofructokinase to be an important control step,
rather than hexokinase?
Phosphofructokinase catalyzes the first committed step in the glycolytic pathway.
At this point, the molecule is committed to entering the glycolytic path. In contrast,
production of G6P is the first step in many different paths. Thus, glycolytic control
would not be maintained by tight regulation of hexokinase.

Why is the isomerization of citrate to isocitrate a necessary step of the citric acid
cycle?
Citrate is a tertiary alcohol that cannot be oxidized. The isomerization converts the
3 alcohol into isocitrate, which is a 2 alcohol that can be oxidized.

Explain why a GTP is energetically equivalent to an ATP in metabolism.

ATP and GTP are equal in metabolism because both both ATP and GTP contain 3
phosphate groups and adenine and guanine are both the same type of nucleic acid.
GTP + ADP <--> GDP + ATP. Conversley, a phosphoryl group can be transferred
from ATP to a GDP forming GTP.

Are the acetyl carbons that enter the citric acid cycle the exact same carbons that
leave as CO2? Briefly explain.
No, the carbons are different. The carbons that leave as CO2 come from
oxaloacetate that condensed with acetyl CoA. However, since succinate is
symmetrical, and the carbons randomize, eventually all carbons are turned over.

What reaction serves to link glycolysis and the citric acid cycle?
Pyruvate + CoA + NAD+ Acetyl CoA + NADH + H++ CO2

17. Glycolysis Shortcut Suppose you discovered a mutant yeast whose

glycolytic pathway was shorter because of the presence of a new enzyme
catalyzing the reaction
Would shortening the glycolytic pathway in this way benefit the cell? Explain.
Answer Under anaerobic conditions, the phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate
kinase reactions are essential. The shortcut in the mutant yeast would bypass
the formation of an acyl phosphate by glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate
dehydrogenase and therefore would not allow the formation of 1,3bisphosphoglycerate. Without the formation of a substrate for 3phosphoglycerate kinase, no ATP would be formed. Under anaerobic conditions,
the net reaction for glycolysis normally produces 2 ATP per glucose. In the
mutant yeast, net production of ATP would be zero and growth could not occur.
Under aerobic conditions, however, because the majority of ATP formation occurs
via oxidative phosphorylation, the mutation would have no observable effect.