3) Here is a drawing of the active site for the reaction we saw in class: lactat

Question

3) Here is a drawing of the active site for the reaction we saw in class: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This reaction, like many in metabolic pathways is reversible. In the drawing here, what we saw previously as the product, pyruvate, is shown docked into the enzyme. The enzyme can react pyruvate to lactate.

The transition state involves a strongly polarized carbonyl group of the pyruvate molecule as shown on the right:

a) Is pyruvate or lactate in a more oxidized state? Why?

Here is a drawing of the active site for the reaction we saw in class: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This reaction, like many in metabolic pathways is reversible. In the drawing here, what we saw previously as the product, pyruvate, is shown docked into the enzyme. The enzyme can react pyruvate to lactate. The transition state involves a strongly polarized carbonyl group of the pyruvate molecule as shown on the right: Is pyruvate or lactate in a more oxidized state? Why?

Explanation / Answer

a) Pyruvate is in more oxidized state.

Oxidation of carbon in C=O is +2 while oxygen has -2 .

Oxidation state of Carbon in C-OH is +1 while OH has - 1 oxidation state.

Pyruvate is CH3-C(=O)- COO-

while lacate is CH3-C(OH)-COO-

hence pyruvate having C=O is in more oxidized state.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse 3
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.