If glucose labeled with ¹⁴C in C-1 were fed to yeast carrying out the ethanol fermentation, where would the ¹⁴C label be in the products?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During ethanol fermentation, the carbon atoms in glucose rearrange. The C-1 atom of glucose (which is labeled in this case) ends up as the C-2 atom in ethanol, which is the methyl group. This is due to the rearrangement of carbon atoms during the conversion of pyruvate to ethanol, involving decarboxylation and reduction steps. The label would not be found in carbon dioxide (CO2) as it is released from a different carbon atom during the decarboxylation of pyruvate.

If Glucose Labeled with 14C in C-1 Were Fed to Yeast

If Glucose Labeled with ¹⁴C in C-1 Were Fed to Yeast