Please help!

[Cloudrose]

Where in the cell does glycolysis occur?
In the presence of ample O2's what happens to pyruvate?
Where in the cell is pyruvate broken down?

[canalon]

I suggest you open your text book and look at the glycolysis chapter. There will be answers and maybe even light,

[billyfisher100]

1) In the cytosol (the bit of the cytoplasm with no organelles).

2) Pyruvate will enter the tricarboxylic acid cycle, be catabolised by pyruvate dehydrogenase into either Acetyl Coenzyme A or Ox.-Aloacetate. Then, the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and Succinate (C4O4) will enter an electron transport chain in oxidative phosphorylation to be oxidised, which is the most efficient way of releasing energy, unlike the glycolysis fermentation process.

3) In the matrix of the mitochondrion.

Hope this is better than looking in a textbook!

[billyfisher100]

If you don't mind me asking, just out of interest, is this A Level Biology you're doing or is it part of a degree?

[JackBean]

billyfisher100:
1) what's Ox.-Aloacetate?
2) are you sure succinate is C4O4?
3) succinate enters ETC?

[billyfisher100]

1) Oxaloacetate is a compound (C4O5) in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, it is an isomer of Malate, after the action of Malate Dehydrogenase or Pyruvate Carboxylase, and is a compund which has been formed (sometimes oxaloacetate, sometimes acetyl, depending on the end compound that will be produced) after catabolism of pyruvate.
2) Yes, it is only the carboxyl group, C4O4 succinic acid has 6 hydrogen atoms.
3) Yes, oxidative phosphorylation, after a coupled reaction with Coenzyme Q to QH2 with the enzyme succinate dehydrogenase.

[JackBean]

1) it's difference between Ox.-Aloacetate and oxaloacetate
2) no, succinate is not C4O4, you're forgetting hydrogens
3) succinate doesn't enter the ETC. It just passes electrons to coenzyme Q, but otherwise is involved in TCA cycle, not in ETC

[billyfisher100]

1. Sorry, I intended to type Oxaloacetate, not "Ox.-Aloacetate".
2. Sorry, I mistyped that, obviously succinic acid is C4H6O4.
3. Yes, succinate does pass electrons to Coenzyme Q (Q to QH2) but I thought you were referring to it entering "a stage" of oxidative phosphorylation, not primarily the electron transport chain.

[cbarlage]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p97BfO1c ... ature=plcp
Interesting way to explain cellular respiration
this will probably help you out

[JackBean]

not so sure about that

[billyfisher100]

Neither am I, I agree with JackBean on that one...