Transport of pyruvate into the mitochondria

[dolimitless]

My Campbell and Raven book both say that after glycolysis pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria via active transport, yet the Examcrackers book says it is transferred via facilitated diffusion. Is this an error in examcrackers?

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[JFK90787]

I've never read anywhere that it uses ATP - that would seem like a pretty important detail. I think the EK might be wrong here.

Also wikipedia says that that transporting the NADH into the mitochondria isn't reversible and all active transport is by definition reversible.

 

[Insulinshock]

Just because it's active transport doesnt mean it requires ATP. All active transport means is that you're transporting a molecule across it's concentration gradient. For instance, the Na+/ glucose cotransporter actively transports glucose but uses no ATP.

 

[Vertex]

Just because it's active transport doesnt mean it requires ATP. All active transport means is that you're transporting a molecule across it's concentration gradient. For instance, the Na+/ glucose cotransporter actively transports glucose but uses no ATP.

Well in that case, it's called "secondary active transport." First the Na+ is transported across the membrane against its concentration gradient using ATP. Then the glucose moves (either syn or anti) co-transport utilizing the Na+ gradient that is already set up.

Back to the original question, I'm pretty sure pyruvate is actively transported using ATP.

 

[himself]

wow. You really think knowing the answer to this question will help you for your mcat. lol

 

[JFK90787]

wow. You really think knowing the answer to this question will help you for your mcat. lol

Everyone hates these tacky detail-type questions. Nevertheless they pop up, and if he feels better knowing the answer then more power to him

 

[Insulinshock]

everyone hates these tacky detail-type questions. Nevertheless they pop up, and if he feels better knowing the answer then more power to him

+1

 

[Longshanks]

Pyruvate is actively transported into the mitochondria, thereafter in the mitochondrial matrix it is decarboxylated to Acetyl-CoA via the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

Voet, Donald; Judith G. Voet, Charlotte W. Pratt (2006). Fundamentals of Biochemistry, 2nd Edition. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.. pp. 547

Pyruvate is polar, thus not allowing passive transport into the mitochondrial. It is brought in through a transport protein.

 

[ezsanche]

^^ great to know for a biochem test. not so much for a MCAT test.