Pantothenic acid deficiency is rare because the vitamin is ubiquitous in food. Its biochemical importance lies in being an integral component of which molecule?
- A Thiamine pyrophosphate
- B Pyridoxal phosphate
- C Coenzyme A ✓
- D Tetrahydrobiopterin
Correct answer: C. Coenzyme A
Explanation
Coenzyme A is built from pantothenic acid linked through a phosphopantetheine arm terminating in a reactive sulfhydryl group that carries acyl groups as thioesters. It participates in oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate and alpha-ketoglutarate, fatty acid synthesis and oxidation, and the citric acid cycle. Thiamine pyrophosphate and pyridoxal phosphate derive from vitamins C1 and C6 respectively, and tetrahydrobiopterin is synthesized from GTP, not from any vitamin.
Reference: Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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