Question

You discover a potentially novel process in the cytoplasm of a species of yeast commonly used to produce champagne. to determine its function, you isolate the biochemical agents and incubate them with various molecules associated with cellular respiration, recording any changes observed (results shown below). which metabolic process, if any, is this structure likely participating in?

Molecule Change in molecule
glucose no change
Pyruvate no change
Acetyl COA no change
O₂ decrease
CO₂ no change
FADH decrease
FAD increase
ADP decrease


a. Glycolysis
b. The Citric Acid Cycle
c. Pyruvate oxidation
d. Oxidative phosphorylation
e. Not enough information to answer

Answer 1

The structure from the yeast is likely involved in oxidative phosphorylation, as indicated by the decrease in oxygen and ADP, along with the conversion of FADH to FAD.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the molecules involved and the observed changes, the metabolic process that the structure from the yeast is likely participating in is oxidative phosphorylation. During this process, oxygen is consumed, which correlates with the observed decrease in O2. Additionally, the decrease in ADP and the corresponding increase in ATP, as well as the conversion of FADH to FAD, all suggest activity in the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis typical of oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis, the Citric Acid Cycle, and Pyruvate Oxidation do not directly use oxygen, and since there's no change in CO2, it suggests that this step occurs after the Citric Acid Cycle, which is consistent with oxidative phosphorylation.