NEETBotanyRespiration in Plants
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): The conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA in the mitochondrial matrix requires Mg ²⁺ ions. Reason (R): The enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase, which catalyses this reaction, is activated by Zn ²⁺ ions. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Options
- ABoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A)
- BBoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A)
- CAssertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false
- DAssertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true
Correct answer
C. Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false
Step-by-step solution
Assertion (A) is true because the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate to acetyl CoA (the link reaction) in the mitochondrial matrix strictly requires Mg ²⁺ ions. Reason (R) is false because the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase is activated by Mg ²⁺ ions, not Zn ²⁺ ions. Zn ²⁺ is an activator for alcohol dehydrogenase, which is involved in anaerobic respiration (fermentation). Therefore, Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false. Answer: Assertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false