Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Ylide on 01/11/2004 11:52:05

Title: TCA cycles and energy sources
Post by: Ylide on 01/11/2004 11:52:05

Studying the TCA cycle got me thinking about something...

Any intermediate in the TCA cycle can be taken into the cycle and used to generate ATP, GTP, electrons for electron transport, and all that good stuff we need to live.  Why can't we just eat, say, a crapload of citric acid and live off of that?  Glycolysis is inefficient anyway, it's just way to break the goo we normally eat down into nice bits of pyruvate for the REAL energy production, right?  What would be be the ramifications of bypassing it entirely and just eating TCA intermediates?



This message brought to you by The Council of People Who Are Sick of Seeing More People

Title: Re: TCA cycles and energy sources
Post by: Fearsome Anna on 02/11/2004 04:44:52

Because unfortunately, citric acid doesn't give us any of the other nutrients we need to keep functioning. We're not much good with rickets! Glycolysis is horrifically inefficient though. No wonder we go into food comas. We're too busy splitting carbon chains to pay attention at work.

Besides, citric acid doesn't taste so hot. [xx(]

From a USMC sniper:

"Don't run. You'll only die tired."

Title: Re: TCA cycles and energy sources
Post by: Ylide on 02/11/2004 11:34:27

Ah right.  Guess we kinda need proteins and vitamins to keep us alive, eh?  It sounded like a great idea at 4 in the morning.  =)

Welcome to the forums, btw.

This message brought to you by The Council of People Who Are Sick of Seeing More People

Title: Re: TCA cycles and energy sources
Post by: dongilbert on 02/12/2004 21:26:02

re inefficient glycolysis

theoretical studies indicate that glycolysis is more efficient when oscillating and maximally so when doing so at the resonant frqeuency.

If anyone is interested I have proposed a theory of ageing based on this  

Gilbert, DA. (1995). Ageing, oscillations and efficiency. BioSystems. 36: 1-5

Title: Re: TCA cycles and energy sources
Post by: Ylide on 12/12/2004 05:06:42

Do you have a link to a non-pay site where this can be found?  PubMed only links to something that costs $30 USD

This message brought to you by The Council of People Who Are Sick of Seeing More People

Title: Re: TCA cycles and energy sources
Post by: Ylide on 13/12/2004 08:41:24

Glycolysis may be inefficient in and of itself, but it's what gets the TCA cycle and eventually electron transport processes going from glucose molecules.  Otherwise, you'd be stuck with fatty acids and proteins as your only source of ATP, and those aren't as quickly process nor as easily stored as glucose.  



This message brought to you by The Council of People Who Are Sick of Seeing More People