Question

What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in various organisms?

Answer 1

Glucose is first broken down in the cell cytoplasm into a three carbon molecule called pyruvate. Pyruvate is further broken down by different ways to provide energy.

The breakdown of glucose by different pathways can be illustrated as follows.

In yeast and human muscle cells, the breakdown of pyruvate occurs in the absence of oxygen whereas in mitochondria, the breakdown of pyruvate occurs in the presence of oxygen.