2.27: Glycolysis (2024)

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    2.27: Glycolysis (1)

    How do you slice a molecule of glucose in half?

    With sharp knives? Not really. But you essentially slice it in half through glycolysis. This is an extremely important part of cellular respiration. It happens all the time, both with and without oxygen. And in the process, transfers some energy to ATP.

    Cellular Respiration Stage I: Glycolysis

    The first stage of cellular respiration is glycolysis. It does not require oxygen, and it does not take place in the mitochondrion - it takes place in the cytosol of the cytoplasm.

    When was the last time you enjoyed yogurt on your breakfast cereal, or had a tetanus shot? These experiences may appear unconnected, but both relate to bacteria which do not use oxygen to make ATP. In fact, tetanus bacteria cannot survive if oxygen is present. However,Lactobacillus acidophilus (bacteria which make yogurt) and Clostridium tetani (bacteria which cause tetanus or lockjaw) share with nearly all organisms the first stage of cellular respiration, glycolysis. Because glycolysis is universal, whereas aerobic (oxygen-requiring) cellular respiration is not, most biologists consider it to be the most fundamental and primitive pathway for making ATP.

    Splitting Glucose

    The word glycolysis means “glucose splitting,” which is exactly what happens in this stage.Enzymes split a molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate (also known as pyruvic acid). This occurs in several steps, as shown in Figure below. You can watch an animation of the steps of glycolysis at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JGXayUyNVw.

    2.27: Glycolysis (2)

    In glycolysis, glucose (C6) is split into two 3-carbon (C3) pyruvate molecules. This releases energy, which is transferred to ATP. How many ATP molecules are made during this stage of cellular respiration?

    Results of Glycolysis

    Energy is needed at the start of glycolysis to split the glucose molecule into two pyruvate molecules. These two molecules go on to stage II of cellular respiration. The energy to split glucose is provided by two molecules of ATP. As glycolysis proceeds, energy is released, and the energy is used to make four molecules of ATP. As a result, there is a net gain of two ATP molecules during glycolysis. During this stage, high-energy electrons are also transferred to molecules of NAD+ to produce two molecules of NADH, another energy-carrying molecule. NADH is used in stage III of cellular respiration to make more ATP.

    A summary of glycolysis can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE2jfTXAJHg.

    Summary

    • The first stage of cellular respiration is glycolysis. It does not require oxygen.
    • During glycolysis, one glucose molecule is split into two pyruvate molecules, using 2 ATP while producing 4 ATP and 2 NADH molecules.

    Explore More

    Explore More I

    Use this resource to answer the questions that follow.

    1. What is the meaning of glycolysis?
    2. What is used in step 1 of glycolysis?
    3. What are isomers?
    4. What is used in step 3 of glycolysis?
    5. How many carbon atoms are in one glyceraldehyde phosphate?
    6. What is produced in step 6?
    7. What is produced in step 7?
    8. What is produced in step 10?
    9. How many ATPs are used and produced during glycolysis?

    Explore More II

    Review

    1. What is glycolysis?
    2. Describe what happens during glycolysis. How many ATP and NADH molecules are gained during this stage?
    3. Defend this statement: ‘‘Glycolysis is a universal and ancient pathway for making ATP’’.
    2.27: Glycolysis (2024)

    FAQs

    2.27: Glycolysis? ›

    Summary. The first stage of cellular respiration is glycolysis. It does not require oxygen. During glycolysis, one glucose molecule is split into two pyruvate molecules, using 2 ATP while producing 4 ATP and 2 NADH molecules.

    Does glycolysis mean sugar splitting? ›

    The word “glycolysis” is derived from the Greek “glykys,” meaning “sweet,” and “lysis,” which means “to split.” This refers to the splitting of one glucose molecule into two molecules of pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis.

    What are the results of glycolysis? ›

    1: Glycolysis produces 2 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 pyruvate molecules: Glycolysis, or the aerobic catabolic breakdown of glucose, produces energy in the form of ATP, NADH, and pyruvate, which itself enters the citric acid cycle to produce more energy.

    What is my glycolysis? ›

    Glycolysis is the process in which glucose is broken down to produce energy. It produces two molecules of pyruvate, ATP, NADH and water. The process takes place in the cytoplasm of a cell and does not require oxygen. It occurs in both aerobic and anaerobic organisms.

    What is the purpose of glycolysis? ›

    Glycolysis involves the breaking of sugar molecules to release energy that is required for cellular metabolism. It occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. The main aim of glycolysis is to synthesize thousands of ATP molecules used for various cellular metabolism.

    What is the clinical significance of glycolysis? ›

    Glycolysis is important because it is the metabolic pathway through which glucose generates cellular energy. Glucose is the most important source of energy for all living organisms. In the human body, glucose is the preferred fuel for the vast majority of cells: It is the only fuel red blood cells can use.

    What happens after glycolysis? ›

    In the presence of oxygen, the next stage after glycolysis is oxidative phosphorylation, which feeds pyruvate to the Krebs Cycle and feeds the hydrogen released from glycolysis to the electron transport chain to produce more ATP (up to 38 molecules of ATP are produced in this process).

    What does glycolysis do to the body? ›

    Glycolysis is a central metabolic pathway that is used by all cells for the oxidation of glucose to generate energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) and intermediates for use in other metabolic pathways.

    What happens when glycolysis is increased? ›

    Increased glycolysis induces β-cell dysfunction and loss of identity. NAD production by Nmnat2 can be targeted to restore β-cell phenotypes.

    Is glycolysis related to diabetes? ›

    Several studies have shown the significant effects of glycolysis-related changes on the occurrence and development of diabetic AS, which may serve as novel thera-peutic targets for diabetic AS in the future. Glycolysis is an important metabolic pathway that generates energy in various cells of the blood vessel wall.

    What are the symptoms of glycolysis? ›

    Dysfunctional glycolysis can lead to problems with the production of energy. ATP is essential for cellular function, and problems with its production can lead to symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and muscle pain. Diseases that can be caused by problems with glycolysis include diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

    What is glycolysis common for? ›

    Glycolysis is common to both aerobic and anaerobic respiration because glucose is the only source of energy and the process of glycolysis is independent of oxygen.

    What is the end result of glycolysis? ›

    The final output or end product of Glycolysis is two molecules of pyruvate, ATP, NADH, and water. The end product of glycolysis in the aerobic condition is pyruvate and lactate in anaerobic conditions.

    What is a disadvantage of glycolysis? ›

    Relative to oxidative phosphorylation, which maximizes the energy potential of a single glucose molecule (approximately 32 molecules of ATP per 1 molecule of glucose), glycolysis is an inefficient means of energy production. Glycolysis produces only two net molecules of ATP per 1 molecule of glucose.

    What happens to sugar during glycolysis? ›

    The first carbon has an attached aldehyde group, and the other five carbons have one hydroxyl group each. During glycolysis, glucose ultimately breaks down into pyruvate and energy; a total of 2 ATP is derived in the process (Glucose + 2 NAD+ + 2 ADP + 2 Pi --> 2 Pyruvate + 2 NADH + 2 H+ + 2 ATP + 2 H2O).

    What is the process of splitting glucose? ›

    The word glycolysis means “glucose splitting,” which is exactly what happens in this stage. Enzymes split a molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate (also k nown as p yruvic acid ).

    What glycolysis literally means splitting? ›

    The first process in the eukaryotic energy pathway is glycolysis, which literally means "sugar splitting." During glycolysis, single molecules of glucose are split and ultimately converted into two molecules of a substance called pyruvate; because each glucose contains six carbon atoms, each resulting pyruvate contains ...

    What is it called when glucose is split? ›

    Glycolysis is the process by which glucose is broken down within the cytoplasm of a cell to form pyruvate. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate can diffuse into mitochondria, where it enters the citric acid cycle and generates reducing equivalents in the form of NADH and FADH2.

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