how could a persons ability to break down glucose through glycolysis be affected if the person's diet were deficient in both niacin and tryptophan?
2007-01-08 11:03:29 · 2 answers · asked by nixsie 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Niacin is part of NAD which is an electron-carrier molecule needed during glycolysis. No niacin -- no NAD -- no glycolysis.
Niacin can be made from tryptophan, an amino acid. So if the diet doesn't have enough niacin, it can use tryptophan to make niacin. If the body doesn't have enough tryptophan for this process, then the back-up system fails and glycolysis won't happen.
2007-01-08 11:09:55 · answer #1 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Niacin is found in foods; it's a form of Vitamin B. Niacin is manufactured within the body from the amino acid tryptophan. Excessive consumption of sugar and starches depletes the body's supply of niacin. Niacin helps increase energy through improving food utilization.
Niacin's role in glycolysis is the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA and reactions of the Krebs Cycle and the hexose monophosphate shunt. All of these reactions are important in the release of energy from carbohydrates.
2007-01-08 19:32:10 · answer #2 · answered by Muga Wa Kabbz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋