Question

What is glycolysis? Describe its various steps.

Answer 1

Hint: We all know that the cells of our body respire to get energy. This is known as cellular respiration. Glycolysis is the process by which the cells in our body break the glucose to release energy. The glucose is broken down into pyruvate and energy is released in the form of ATP.

Complete answer:
To know the correct answer to the question, we must be well aware of every step involved in Glycolysis.
Glycolysis begins with the conversion of glucose into glucose 6-phosphate which is catalyzed by the enzyme hexokinase. This reaction takes place in the presence of ATP.
This glucose 6-phosphate is further isomerized to fructose 6-phosphate.
This is then phosphorylated to fructose 1,6-diphosphate. With the help of ATP and the enzyme kinase.
Fructose 1,6-diphosphate is then cleaved into two 3-C containing compounds: 3 phosphoglyceraldehyde and dihydroxyacetone phosphate.
3-phosphoglyceraldehyde changes into 1,3-diphosphoglyceric acid. Simultaneously, the reduction of NAD+ to NADH + H+.
1,3-diphosphoglyceric acid then changes to 3 phosphoglyceric acid which further changes into 2 phosphoglyceric acid.
Next step is the dehydration reaction. One water molecule is removed from 2 phosphoglyceric acids. This results in the formation of 2 phosphoenol pyruvic acid.
Lastly, this phosphoenol pyruvic acid is converted into pyruvic acid in the presence of the enzyme pyruvate kinase.

Note: Here it must be noted that the glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm. It is a common process in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration because it occurs without utilizing oxygen. The pyruvate formed as the end product now goes into the Kreb Cycle which takes place in the mitochondria.