Question

In glycolysis, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is converted to two products with a standard free-energy change (delta g'°) of 23.8 kj/mol. under what conditions encountered in a normal cell will the free-energy change (delta g) be negative, enabling the reaction to proceed spontaneously to the right?

Answer 1

Answer;

When there is a high concentration of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate relative to the concentration of products.

Explanation;

• Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is formed at the first irreversible reaction unique to glycolytic pathway, the commited step, after the phosphorylation of fructose 6-phosphate.
• The reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme phosphofructokinase, and it is the primary control site in glycolysis.
• When there is a high concentration of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate relative to the concentration of products, the change in the free-energy will be negative, and this enables the reaction to proceed towards the formation of products from fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.