Glycolysis

 

Glycolysis

Definition

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose C₆H₁₂O₆, into pyruvic acid, CH₃COCOOH. The free energy released in this process is used to form the high-energy molecules adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Glycolysis is a sequence of ten reactions catalyzed by enzymes.

Introduction- Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that does not require oxygen. Glycolysis occurs in the liquid part of cells, the cytosol. The most common type of Glycolysis is the Embden–Meyerhof–Parnas (EMP) pathway, which was discovered by Gustav Embden, Otto Meyerhof, and Jakub Karol Parnas. Glycolysis also refers to other pathways, such as the Entner–Doudoroff pathway and various hetero and homo fermentative pathways.

The Glycolysis pathway comprising ten steps can be described into two phases:

1.   The Preparatory (or Investment) Phase wherein ATP is consumed- first five steps.

2.   The Pay off Phase wherein ATP is produced- next five steps.