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Please answer the question #5 The WARburg effect .Which glycolytic intermediates

ID: 276089 • Letter: P

Question

Please answer the question

#5 The WARburg effect .Which glycolytic intermediates connect to other pathways such as TCA, ETC, PPP, fatty acid synthesis, amino acid synthesis and beta oxidation? When Otto Von Warburg received the nobel prize in 1931, he was under the impression that cancer cells' preferential aerobic glycolysis was caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. However, he was wrong. We now know that cancer cells have intact mitochondria. In that case, why would a cancer cell want to run glycolysis under aerobic conditions? . HINT: it is not for ATP

Explanation / Answer

The glycolytic intermediate that connects multiple pathways of metabolism and regulation in our body is acetyl CoA. The acetyl coenzyme A is a molecule that has many biochemical reactions and role to play in the overall metabolism of protein, lipid and carbohydrates. One of the major functions is delivering the acetyl group to citric acid cycle for oxidation for energy production. It is basically a carrier for the entire acyl group.

It is found that cancer cells run glycolysis under aerobic conditions as it is needed for the rapid growth of the tumor. The M2 form of the pyruvate kinase is an enzyme which is required in sugar metabolism where there is increase uptake of glucose. There is higher reliance on glycolysis for ATP production despite all the available source of oxygen. The glucose is used more for the process of replication than for the normal cell metabolism.

It is recommended never to make a drug that targets kinases or glycolytic enzymes because it will interfere will the process of glycolysis. With interference in the glycolytic pathway, glucose will not be able to break down to provide energy required for various processes occurring in the body.

Glucose-6-Phosphatase is the enzyme that bypasses the hexokinase in gluconeogenesis. The enzyme is responsible for converting glucose-6-phosphate to glucose.