Once molecules of pyruvate enter the mitochondria, how many electron carriers (NAD⁺ or FAD) are reduced per original molecule of glucose? A)4 B)5 C)6 D)8 E)10 Visual Synthesis Animation Assessments

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Each glucose molecule produces 2 pyruvate molecules. In the mitochondria, each pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA, reducing 1 NAD+ to NADH. Then, each acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, reducing 3 NAD+ to NADH and 1 FAD to FADH2. Therefore, per glucose, 2 NADH from pyruvate conversion and 6 NADH + 2 FADH2 from the citric acid cycle are produced, totaling 10 reduced electron carriers.

Once Molecules of Pyruvate Enter the Mitochondria, How Many Electron