Question

The TCA cycle and glyoxylate cycle are similar in many respects. Which of the following statements accurately describes these cycles?

A) Both cycles are catabolic in function.
B) The glyoxylate cycle has only a single decarboxylating reaction.
C) In the glyoxylate cycle, two acetyl CoA molecules are used to generate succinate.
D) The glyoxylate cycle is used by some organisms to synthesize proteins.
E) The TCA and glyoxylate cycles both occur in the mitochondrion.

Answer 1

The TCA cycle and glyoxylate cycle are similar in some ways, but they have distinct differences. Both cycles occur in the mitochondrion, but the glyoxylate cycle is not used to generate succinate and is involved in the synthesis of important molecules. The TCA cycle is catabolic and extracts energy from molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

The TCA cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle or Krebs cycle) and the glyoxylate cycle have some similarities. One accurate statement about these cycles is that they both occur in the mitochondrion.

However, it is important to note that the glyoxylate cycle is not used to generate succinate from two acetyl CoA molecules. In fact, the glyoxylate cycle is used by some organisms to synthesize other important molecules such as amino acids, fatty acids, and nucleotides, rather than proteins.

Furthermore, while both cycles are involved in energy metabolism, only the TCA cycle is catabolic in function as it helps to extract energy from molecules like glucose.