Summary
- Glycolysis is the first pathway used to derive energy from carbohydrates
- It is a complex process requiring the activity of various enzymes and co-factors
- Glycolysis consists of two parts: The first part requires ATP to be invested to provide energy to separate glucose into two 3-carbon sugars. separation.
- The second half of glycolysis produces ATP and electrons from hydrogen atoms and attaches them to NAD+, producing NADH.
- Two ATP molecules are invested in the energy investment phase and four ATP molecules are formed during the energy payoff phase. This produces a net gain of two ATP and two NADH molecules for the cell.
What is Glycolysis?
Glycolysis the first step of cellular respiration. It describes a sequence of reactions that break down carbohydrates into smaller molecules. Broadly, glycolysis breaks down a glucose molecule and forms 2 pyruvate molecules, with the release of two molecules of ATP. Glycolysis evolved a long time ago and is utilised by the vast majority of organisms. It literally means ‘splitting sugars’.
Stages of glycolysis
Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm. It is a complex process and has ten steps requiring various enzymes and co-factors. Glycolysis can be separated into two phases: the energy-investment phase and the energy-payoff phase.
Energy-investment phase
During the energy investment phase, glucose is modified with the addition of two phosphate groups, forming a modified sugar called fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. This molecule is unstable and can be split in half to form two 3-carbon sugars. This requires the investment of two molecules of ATP
Energy-payoff phase
In the energy-payoff phase, the three-carbon sugars are converted into three-carbon pyruvates, through a series of enzyme-mediated reactions. During this process, two ATP molecules and one NADH molecule are made. However, because there are two pyruvate molecules to be converted, four ATP and two NADH are made.
Glycolysis in more detail
Glucose is first phosphorylated to glucose-6-phosphate with an enzyme called hexokinase. This requires the investment of a molecule of ATP. Glucose-6-phosphate is then converted to fructose-6-phosphate by an enzyme called phosphoglucose isomerase. Next, another ATP-dependent interaction occurs; the enzyme phosphofructokinase converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. This 6-carbon sugar now has 2 phosphate groups attached.
This molecule then gets broken up into 2 3 carbon molecules using an aldolase enzyme. These 3 carbon molecules are glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP). Only glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate can progress to the following stages of the reaction, but DHAP can be converted into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate with the enzyme triose phosphate isomerase. Glyceraldheyde-3-phosphate is then converted to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate using glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, which also produces one NADH.
Now in the payoff phase, phosphoglycerate kinase can dephosphorylate 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to produce 3-phosphoglycerate. This makes 1 ATP per reaction, and since there are 2 starting molecules, 2 ATP are generated. Next phosphoglyceromutase converts 3-phosphoglycerate into 2-phosphoglycerate, and then the enzyme enolase converts this into phosphoenolpyruvate. Finally, pyruvate kinase dephosphorylates phosphoenolpyruvate producing another ATP per molecule (so 2 ATPs)
Read more about Glycolysis Steps, Pathways & Cycle
What happens next?
At the end of glycolysis, there is a NET gain of two pyruvate molecules, two ATP molecules, and 2 molecules of NADH molecules. If oxygen is available, the pyruvate can enter the mitochondria and be oxidised to carbon dioxide through the process of cellular respiration, releasing high-energy electrons and many molecules of ATP. If oxygen is not available, anaerobic respiration occurs, producing lactic acid.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is glycolysis?
It is the process by which glucose molecules are broken down to obtain energy.
Where does glycolysis take place?
Glycolysis takes place in the cytosol of the cells. The enzymes for the reactions of glycolysis are present in the cytoplasm.
Is oxygen needed for glycolysis?
No, oxygen is not needed for glycolysis. These reactions can occur in the presence or absence of oxygen.
Which type of organisms undergo glycolysis?
Glycolysis takes place in both aerobic as well as anaerobic organisms. It is the basic source of energy for most living organisms.
References and further reading
https://www.slideshare.net/prabeshrajjk/lecture-13-40727535 Simple glycolysis diagram
https://microbiologyinfo.com/glycolysis-10-steps-explained-steps-by-steps-with-diagram/ detail glycolysis diagram
Campbell, Neil A., and Jane B. Reece. Biology (8th Edition). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2007.