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Which one of the following mammalian cells is not capable of metabolising glucose to carbon-dioxide aerobically?
A
unstriated muscle cells
B
liver cells
C
red blood cells
D
white blood cells
Detailed Solution
The complete aerobic oxidation of glucose to $CO_2$ and water takes place through the Krebs cycle and the electron transport system, which are located in the mitochondria.
Mature mammalian red blood cells lack a nucleus, mitochondria and other cell organelles; this leaves more room for haemoglobin.
Since they do not have mitochondria, the red blood cells cannot carry out the Krebs cycle.
They obtain their energy only by anaerobic glycolysis, in which glucose is converted to lactic acid, so they respire only anaerobically.
This also ensures that they do not use up the oxygen they carry.
Unstriated muscle cells, liver cells and white blood cells all have mitochondria and can oxidise glucose aerobically.
So the cells that cannot metabolise glucose to carbon dioxide aerobically are the red blood cells.
Mature mammalian red blood cells lack a nucleus, mitochondria and other cell organelles; this leaves more room for haemoglobin.
Since they do not have mitochondria, the red blood cells cannot carry out the Krebs cycle.
They obtain their energy only by anaerobic glycolysis, in which glucose is converted to lactic acid, so they respire only anaerobically.
This also ensures that they do not use up the oxygen they carry.
Unstriated muscle cells, liver cells and white blood cells all have mitochondria and can oxidise glucose aerobically.
So the cells that cannot metabolise glucose to carbon dioxide aerobically are the red blood cells.