Final answer:
The pentose phosphate pathway generates NADPH and building blocks for nucleic acids, but does not produce ATP, 6 carbon, 7 carbon, or 8 carbon building blocks, nor does it start with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. The correct options are (b) and (c).
Step-by-step explanation:
The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), also known as the phosphogluconate pathway or the hexose monophosphate shunt, is a crucial metabolic pathway that runs parallel to glycolysis, and its features include the generation of NADPH, and the production of pentose sugars like ribose 5-phosphate, which are precursors for the synthesis of nucleotides. Unlike glycolysis, PPP is not directly involved in the production of ATP. Instead, its main roles are to provide reducing power and metabolic intermediates for biosynthetic reactions. Here's a brief look at the important features of the pathway:
- b. Building blocks for nucleic acids are generated: Ribose 5-phosphate is produced, which is an essential component for the synthesis of RNA and DNA.
- c. NADPH is produced: This molecule is crucial for biosynthetic reactions as it provides reducing power needed for anabolic processes, such as fatty acid synthesis and the maintenance of redox balance.
- The pathway does not begin with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, but with glucose-6-phosphate, a metabolite that is also an intermediary in glycolysis. Therefore, choice (d) is incorrect.
- While the PPP does involve sugars with various carbon lengths, it does not lead to the production of 6 carbon, 7 carbon, and 8 carbon building blocks directly. Hence, choice (e) is not a feature of the PPP.
In conclusion, the relevant selections regarding important features of the pentose phosphate pathway are b (building blocks for nucleic acids are generated) and c (NADPH is produced).