52 



The Chemistry of the Injured Cell 



which loses electrons to flavoprotein /? with the aid of succinic 

 dehydrogenase and is converted to fumarate and then malate, and 

 then by malic dehydrogenase to oxaloacetate. The reactions then 

 continue in a cyclical fashion (the tricarboxylic acid cycle) . In one 

 revolution of the cycle 10 hydrogen atoms have been removed and 

 transferred to oxygen by way of the hydrogen carriers, three carbon 

 atoms have been removed and one molecule of pyruvate has been 

 completely oxidised to C0 2 and H 2 (Fig. 6) . 



Glucose 



Glucose " 6 ^ Phosphate 



H^h)->tpn 



6" Phospho ^ Gluconic Acid 



rco 2 



Ribuiose PhosphatetZZZ^pJ^V 



Nucleic Acid 

 Synthesis 



Tri & Di^carbon Compounds 



Glycolysis 



& 

 Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle 



Fig. 5. The "Shunt" or Pentose Phosphate Pathway of Glucose Breakdown. 



