Question

Cells that have a high level of reactive oxygen species would need which of the following pathway(s) to be active in order to reduce the high level of oxidative stress?

a. oxidative phase of ppp
b. non-oxidative phase of ppp
c. glycolysis (payoff phase only - glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to pyruvate)
d. gluconeogenesis (part of the pathway - from fructose 6-phosphate to glucose 6-phosphate)

Answer 1

The oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is crucial for reducing oxidative stress in cells, as it produces NADPH which helps neutralize reactive oxygen species.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cells that have a high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) would need pathways active in order to reduce this high level of oxidative stress. Among the given options, the pathway that directly helps in mitigating oxidative stress is the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). This phase of the PPP produces NADPH, which is crucial for the reduction of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) back to its reduced form (GSH), thereby detoxifying ROS and protecting the cell from oxidative damage.