AAMC Section Bank BB#97

[663697]

Just wondering, are we required to know the structures of the intermediates in the metabolic pathways? I was pretty thrown off by this question.

Spoiler: question

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[deleted853480]

Sadly you do but don't wast your time. If it comes up it will only be one question.

 

[aldol16]

You should be able to recognize the structures of the intermediates in the central metabolic pathways of life. This includes glycolysis and the TCA cycle. Furthermore, with this question, you should be able to deduce the correct answer just by looking at the chemical logic. You're going from a saturated site at C-2 to an oxidized, hydroxyl site. You should know that, chemically, one of two things must have happened. Either A) a C-H activation at the C-2 carbon to form a radical which then reacts with an oxygen source (unlikely) or B) desaturation followed by hydration. (B) is a very common mechanism you'll come across in biochemistry - for instance in beta oxidation.

 

[663697]

You should be able to recognize the structures of the intermediates in the central metabolic pathways of life. This includes glycolysis and the TCA cycle. Furthermore, with this question, you should be able to deduce the correct answer just by looking at the chemical logic. You're going from a saturated site at C-2 to an oxidized, hydroxyl site. You should know that, chemically, one of two things must have happened. Either A) a C-H activation at the C-2 carbon to form a radical which then reacts with an oxygen source (unlikely) or B) desaturation followed by hydration. (B) is a very common mechanism you'll come across in biochemistry - for instance in beta oxidation.

The latter is how I reasoned it out after staring at it for a few seconds