Glycolysis

Glycolysis

• First metabolic pathway to give any living organism energy
• used in every cell- universal
• organelles are not needed for the process to take place, can occur in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• occurs in the cytosol
• 10 enzymes in the glycolysis procees, divided into 2 phases, the energy investment phase and the energy generation phase

 

Glucose enters glycolysis to form 2 mols of pyruvate. When oxygen and is available the pyruvate continues into the TCA cycle. Both mitochondria and oxygen much be present for this passage to occur.

However, when no oxygen is available, the pyruvate either forms 2 mols of carbon dioxide and ethanol through fermentation or 2 mols of lactic acid(lactate) which is also through fermentation. Lactate regenerates NAD+ when pyruvate is converted. red blood cells, rich in oxygen but lacking mitochondria use fermentation.

Process of glycolysis

5 enzyme reactions consisting of 2 irreversible reactions and 3 reversible reactions make up the Energy Investment Phase.

5 enzyme reactions consisting of 1 irreversible reactions and 4 reversible reactions make up the Energy Generation Phase.

Net gain of this reaction: 2 ATP and 2 NADH