Question

What does a deficiency in pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase lead to?

1) Decreased production of ATP
2) Increased production of ATP
3) Impaired glucose metabolism
4) Enhanced glucose metabolism

Answer 1

A deficiency in pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase leads to decreased production of ATP and impaired glucose metabolism due to reduced activity of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

Step-by-step explanation:

A deficiency in pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase leads to impaired pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) activity, as pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase reactivates PDC by dephosphorylation. Since PDC is essential for converting pyruvate into acetyl CoA, which enters the Krebs cycle for ATP production, a deficiency would ultimately lead to decreased production of ATP and impaired glucose metabolism.

This impairment affects the total energy output of cells, sometimes resulting in a range of neurodegenerative symptoms depending on the level of PDC enzyme activity.