Bioenergetics of Glucose Metabolism and Gibbs Free Energy

Very Hard Biochemistry Bioenergetics

In cellular metabolism, the thermodynamics of biochemical reactions play a critical role in understanding how energy is transformed within living systems. One such reaction is the conversion of glucose to pyruvate during glycolysis, which is an anaerobic process. This conversion is coupled with the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP, making it a key point of bioenergetic regulation. Furthermore, variations in the concentrations of reactants and products, such as glucose and ATP, directly influence the free energy change (ΔG) of the reactions involved. Consider the following statements about the energetics of cellular respiration and identify the correct assertion regarding the relationship between Gibbs free energy and the changes observed during metabolic pathways.

The free energy change for a reaction can be negative (ΔG < 0) if the reaction is exergonic and occurs spontaneously.

The hydrolysis of ATP is always coupled with endergonic reactions, irrespective of the ΔG values.

The concentration of ATP must exceed that of ADP for cellular processes to proceed efficiently.

In standard conditions, a reaction with a ΔG of 0 can still proceed if the enzyme concentration is increased.

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