Final answer:
Yes, an NaD+/NADH dependent enzyme can tell the difference between pro-R hydrogen and pro-S hydrogen due to enzyme specificity and active site structure. This allows for precise biochemical reactions, as seen in G-3-P dehydrogenase's role in glycolysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, an NaD+/NADH dependent enzyme can distinguish between the pro-R hydrogen and pro-S hydrogen of a substrate. Enzymes are highly specific and can recognize different hydrogen atoms on a chiral carbon within a substrate due to their 3-dimensional structure and the unique active site. When it comes to metabolic reactions like those involving the G-3-P dehydrogenase, this specificity ensures that the correct hydrogen (either pro-R or pro-S) is abstracted during the reaction.
For instance, in the reversible reaction involving G-3-P, the enzyme facilitates the removal of hydrogen to form phosphoglyceric acid, which is then phosphorylated to create 1,3 diphosphoglyceric acid. Concurrently, NAD+ is reduced to NADH, highlighting the enzyme's precision in hydrogen transfer.
This specificity is crucial for the proper functioning of metabolic pathways and the overall homeostasis within a biological system. Enzymes rely on their ability to recognize minute differences in substrate molecules, such as the pro-R and pro-S hydrogens, to carry out these finely tuned biochemical reactions.