Assume you have a solution containing the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and all the enzymes of the TCA cycle, but none of the metabolic intermediates. When you supplement this solution with 5 μ moles each of pyruvate, oxaloacetate, coenzyme A, NAD+, FAD, GDP, and Pi, you find that 5 μ moles of CO2 are evolved and then the reaction stops. When you add alcohol dehydrogenase and its substrate acetaldehyde, additional CO2 is produced.
(a) How do you explain this result?
(b) How many m moles of acetaldehyde are required to allow complete oxidation of the pyruvate to 15 m moles of CO2?