Question

Imagine a drug that shuts down the glycolytic pathway. In this case?

Select one or more:

a. Acetyl CoA levels within cells would rise

b. Acetyl CoA levels within cells would fall

c. Ketoacids in the blood would rise

d. Ketoacids in the blood would fall

e. Blood pH would rise

f. Blood pH would fall

Answer 1

The correct answers are

• (a)Acetyl CoA levels within cells would rise.
• (c)Ketoacids in the blood would rise.
• (f)Blood pH would fall.

Why this happens?
This happens because, the glycolysis pathway has been shut off. So the body will now try to make use of the fatty acids and generate energy.

When fatty acids are metabolised for energy, a lot of Acetyl-coA molecules are released (as compared to glycolysis)that help in generating energy. So the number of Acetyl-coA levels rise in the cell.

Also ketone bodies can be formed due to excess of Acetyl-coA and lack of carbohydrates. So amount of ketone bodies rise in the blood.
As the ketone bodies are present in the blood, it makes the blood pH acidic. Hence the blood pH falls.