Question

Give the schematic representation of glycolysis.

Answer 1

Glycolysis:

1. The process by which the conversion of glucose into pyruvic acid takes place to release energy.
2. This process takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell.
3. This process might be aerobic or anaerobic.
4. It is a process in which 10 reactions take place, which are catalyzed by enzymes.

The steps involved in glycolysis are:

1. In the preparatory phase of glycolysis, under the effect of the hexokinase and other enzymes, D-glucose is converted to fructose 6-phosphate with some rearrangements.
2. Under the effect of the aldolase enzyme, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is broken down to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P).
3. The last five steps of glycolysis are called the pay-off phase. G3P is converted to 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate. After which, ATP and 3-phosphoenolglycerate are formed.
4. One molecule of water is removed from 2-phosphoglycerate, and phosphoenol pyruvic acid (PEP) is formed.
5. Finally, from PEP, pyruvate and ATP are formed.

Schematic representation of glycolysis: