Which carbon atom in one of the glycolytic intermediates shown below would have to be radiolabeled with ¹⁴C in order to ensure all the radioactivity would be release as ¹⁴CO₂ during alcoholic fermentation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During alcoholic fermentation, the carbon atom that would ensure all the radioactivity is released as CO2 is C3 of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate. This is because in the glycolytic pathway, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is split into two three-carbon molecules, one of which is glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. The carbon atoms from C3 of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate eventually become the carbon of the CO2 molecule released during the decarboxylation step of alcoholic fermentation.

Which Carbon Atom in One of the Glycolytic Intermediates Shown