Question

If electrons are received from glycolysis and the pyruvate dehydrogenase, how many molecules of oxygen can be reduced by one glucose molecule?

Answer 1

One molecule of glucose undergoes glycolysis reaction and produce 2 molecules of pyruvate and 2 molecule of NADH

And next two molecules of pyruvate undergoes oxidative decarboxylation by Pyruvate Dehydrogenase enzymes.and produce 2 molecule Acetyl and 2 molecules of NADH.

So ,total NADH produce from one molecule of glucose is :-4

Now NADH donates two electrons,

Whereas O2 molecule receive four electrons to produce one molecule of Water (H2O)

From 4 molecules of NADH no of electron=(4*2) =8

So, number of oxygen molecule involved is=(8÷4) =2