Biology help

[Young Premed]

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What is required to break the covalent bonds in glucose? I'd say enzymes but can high heat break them apart?

 

[LikeClockWork]

High enough heat can break apart almost any bond.

What about the bond between a boy and his dog?

 

[Young Premed]

But to break the c-c bonds in glucose, do we need enzymes, high heat and ATP to break them apart or can any of them do it alone?

 

[Libtech]

I wonder if you are referring to the shift between the Aldehyde and Cyclic forms of glucose.
I know the cyclic form is favored under physiologic-pH (~7-7.2). But I think in more acidic conditions the equilibrium may shift towards the non-cyclic aldehyde conformation.
But back to more of your question, it takes the addition of ATP(s) and many enzymes for the METABOLIC breakdown of glucose. Think of glycolysis, specifically the ATP's added by the kinases to build the 6-C molecule to an energy state favorable for the split into 2x 3-C molecules by the enzyme Aldolase. (into glyceraldehyde 3-P or dihydroxyacetone Phosphate)

 

[Young Premed]

I am referring to the c-c bonds in glucose. So that means that either high heat, ATP or enzymes can break the c-c covalent bonds.

 

[Isoprop]

how to break bonds in a glucose molecule? glycolysis cleaves it in half. so enzymes.

 

[Libtech]

Technically speaking, glycolysis cleaves fructose 1,6-biphosphate...not the glucose compound itself.

Heh thus you guys should both read my post above it 🙂 I mentioned the 2 phosphates added to allow for a favorable cleavage by aldolase (6C to 3c). Anyways just giving ya crap 😛