Question

what would happen to the flow of carbon in central metabolism if alpha-ketoglutarate was being removed to make the amino acid glutamate?

Answer 1

The flow of carbon would reduce if the alpha ketogluterate in the cell was made into the amino acid glutamate. Since alpha ketogluterate is a critical part of the TCA cycle and the TCA cycle is a vital part of respiration, the flow of carbon and energy would reduce.

The TCA cycle would not go on in the absence of alpha ketogluterate. anaplerotic reactions will also not occur in the absence of alpha ketogluterate.