Question

When triglycerides are metabolized, ___ is/are converted to pyruvate or glucose, whereas ____ is/are converted to acetyl CoA.

Answer 1

Glycerol;Pyruvate

Step-by-step explanation:

Metabolism of triglycerides occur through a process known as lipolysis. During triglyceride metabolism, Glycerol is converted to pyruvate or glucose through glycolysis or gluconeogenesis respectively. Glycerol enters these pathways by being converted to glycerol-3-phosphate (reaction catalyzed by glycerol kinase) which can in turn be converted to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (reaction catalyzed by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase).

NOTE: Dihydroxyacetone phosphate is a compound/substrate found in both glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.

The end product of glycolysis is pyruvate; this pyruvate, under aerobic condition is converted to acetyl coA (reaction catalyzed by pyruvate dehydrogenase complex), an intermediary of the Tricarboxylic acid cycle.