Question

What is the end product of the glycolysis process?
A. $C{H_3}C{H_2}OH$
B. $C{H_3}CO.COOH$
C. $C{H_3}HCOH - COOH$
D. $C{H_3}C{H_2}COOH$

Answer 1

Hint: It took over 100 years to discover the glycolysis process which forms the basic process in many organism’s metabolism. The energy required in our body is generated via a long cascade of glycolysis. Authur Harden and William Young discovered it through a series of experiments.

Complete answer:
Glycolysis is the process of conversion of glucose to the simpler forms, that is, two molecules of pyruvate or pyruvic acid. It is an anaerobic pathway, which comprises ten steps. The entire process utilizes energy in the first half but produces energy in the form of ATP in the second half. It is an enzyme-catalyzed process. Any form of monosaccharide can be converted and reduced.

It has two phases- the preparatory phase and the payoff phase.
The first phase, preparatory phase, can be assumed as an investment phase as it consumes energy to convert glucose into three-carbon compounds. Various enzymes like hexokinase, isomerases etc. are involved in the conversion of these compounds.

In the second phase, which is the payoff phase, there is a net gain of ATP and NADH. This occurs twice to treat the two three-molecule sugar compounds. It gives us pyruvic acid at the end along with 2 NADH and 4 ATP.

Pyruvic acid $(C{H_3}CO.COOH)$ is the alpha-keto acid with carboxylic acid and a ketone group. Through the fermentation process, it can be converted to ethanol or lactic acid. Aerobically or in the presence of oxygen, the pyruvic acid is produced. While anaerobically or in the absence of oxygen, ethanol is produced.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: Glycolysis is the fastest process of producing ATP or energy. The process is initiated in the cytoplasm of the cell but is completed in the mitochondria. It occurs in both the prokaryotes and eukaryotes either aerobically and anaerobically. A number of other metabolic processes such as, pentose phosphate pathway, glycogen synthesis, citric acid cycle, utilizes the metabolites produced during glycolysis.