GLYCOLYSIS
REFERENCES
Voet and Voet, Chapter 17, p 581
Garrett and Grisham, Chapter 19, p609
AIM
An introduction to the reactions, regulation and function of glycolysis
INTRODUCTION
Glycolysis is the biological, stepwise degradation of glucose that is shared by
most living organisms. It is carried out in the cytoplasm of cells, where its
principal reactions have no requirement for oxygen. Most organisms use
glycolysis to provide precursor metabolites for aerobic catabolic pathways,
and a short-term energy source when oxygen is limiting.
Glucose arising in the blood from the breakdown of polysaccharides, enters
most cells via specific carriers that transport into the cytoplasm where the
glycolytic enzymes are located. Glycolysis is a sequence of 10 enzymatic
reactions where 1 molecule of glucose is converted to two molecules of
pyruvate, with the concomitant generation of two ATP molecules.
OUTCOMES
The student must be able to:
1. Understand the reactions of the pathway.
2. Explain the regulation of the glycolytic pathway.
3. Explain the mechanism of the action of key enzymes in the pathway.
SELF ASSESSMENT
Write out the reactions of glycolysis, showing the structural changes of the
intermediates, the interaction with coenzymes, and the enzymes involved.
Describe the three fates of pyruvate.
Describe the mechanisms that regulate phosphofructokinase activity.