Glyceraldehyde phosphate is oxidised in glycolysis. What is the fate of hydrogen atom and electron liberated?

Options

A. (a) reduce `NAD^+`
B. (b) oxidise `NAD^+`
C. (c) transferred to pyruvic acid
D. (d) eliminated

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Glycolysis**: Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing energy in the form of ATP and NADH in the process. One of the key intermediates in this pathway is glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P).

2. **Oxidation of Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate**: During glycolysis, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is oxidized to form 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (BPG). This oxidation involves the removal of hydrogen atoms and electrons from G3P.

3. **Role of NAD+**: The hydrogen atoms and electrons liberated during the oxidation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate are transferred to NAD+, a coenzyme that functions as an electron carrier.

4. **Formation of NADH**: When NAD+ accepts the electrons and hydrogen atoms, it is reduced to form NADH. This reaction can be summarized as:
\[ \text{Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate} + \text{NAD}^+ \rightarrow \text{1,3-bisphosphoglycerate} + \text{NADH} + \text{H}^+ \]

5. **Fate of NADH**: The NADH produced is then used in the electron transport chain during cellular respiration to generate ATP. It serves as a crucial intermediate in energy production.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the fate of the hydrogen atom and electron liberated during the oxidation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is that they are used to reduce NAD+ to NADH, which is then utilized in the electron transport chain.

**Final Answer**: The hydrogen atom and electron liberated are used to reduce NAD+ to NADH.

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