During strenuous activity, the demand for ATP in muscle tissueis vastly increased. In rabbit leg muscle or turkey flight muscle,the ATP is produced almost exclusively by lactic acid fermentation.ATP is formed in the payoff phase of glycolysis by two reactions,promoted by phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase. Supposeskeletal muscle were devoid of lactate dehydrogenase. Could itcarry out strenuous physical activity; that is, could it generateATP at a high rate by glycolysis? Explain.
Discuss the pros and cons of lactate production in active muscle.Why is lactate produced? What happens to the lactate?
The transformation of glucose to lactate in myocytes releases onlyabout 7%
of the free energy released when glucose is completely oxidized toCO2 and H2O. Does this mean that anaerobicglycolysis in muscle is a wasteful use of glucose?
