glycolysis

(noun)

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate and hydrogen ions.

Related Terms

  • NADPH
  • citric acid cycle
  • acetyl CoA
  • oxidative stress
  • ATP

(noun)

The cellular degradation of the simple sugar glucose to yield pyruvic acid and ATP as an energy source.

Related Terms

  • NADPH
  • citric acid cycle
  • acetyl CoA
  • oxidative stress
  • ATP

Examples of glycolysis in the following topics:

  • The Entner–Doudoroff Pathway

    • Glycolysis (from glycose, an older term for glucose + -lysis degradation) is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose C6H12O6, into pyruvate, CH3COCOO− + H+.
    • Most bacteria use glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway.
    • By comparison, glycolysis has a net yield of 2 ATP and 2 NADH for every one glucose molecule processed.
    • There are a few bacteria that substitute classic glycolysis with the Entner-Doudoroff pathway.
    • They may lack enzymes essential for glycolysis, such as phosphofructokinase-1.
  • Substrates for Biosynthesis

    • An additional central metabolic pathway includes glycolysis.
    • Glycolysis is characterized by a series of reactions that results in the conversion of glucose into pyruvate.
  • Respiration and Proton Motive Force

    • Although carbohydrates, fats and proteins can be used as reactants, the preferred method is the process of glycolysis.
    • During glycolysis, pyruvate is formed from glucose metabolism.
    • Both types of metabolism share the initial pathway of glycolysis, but aerobic metabolism continues with the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
    • Glycolysis takes place in the cytosol, does not require oxygen, and can therefore function under anaerobic conditions.
    • A diagram of cellular respiration including glycolysis, Krebs cycle (AKA citric acid cycle), and the electron transport chain.
  • Pyruvic Acid and Metabolism

    • Pyruvic acid can be made from glucose through glycolysis, converted back to carbohydrates (such as glucose) via gluconeogenesis, or to fatty acids through acetyl-CoA.
    • It is the output of the anaerobic metabolism of glucose known as glycolysis.
    • Pyruvate from glycolysis is converted by fermentation to lactate using the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and the coenzyme NADH in lactate fermentation.
    • Pyruvic acid can be made from glucose through glycolysis, converted back to carbohydrates (such as glucose) via gluconeogenesis, or to fatty acids through acetyl-CoA.
  • Fermentation Without Substrate-Level Phosphorylation

    • Fermentation is important in anaerobic conditions when there is no oxidative phosphorylation to maintain the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) by glycolysis.
    • Pyruvic acid can be made from glucose through glycolysis, converted back to carbohydrates (such as glucose) via gluconeogenesis, or to fatty acids through acetyl-CoA.
  • Types of Catabolism

    • Once inside, the major route of breakdown is glycolysis, where sugars such as glucose and fructose are converted into pyruvate and some ATP is generated.
    • In anaerobic conditions, glycolysis produces lactate, through the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase re-oxidizing NADH to NAD+ for re-use in glycolysis.
    • The glycerol initiates glycolysis and the fatty acids are broken down by beta oxidation to release acetyl-CoA, which then is fed into the citric acid cycle.
  • Syntrophy

    • This means that these organisms do not use an electron transport chain to oxidize NADH to NAD+ and therefore must have an alternative method of using this reducing power and maintaining a supply of NAD+ for the proper functioning of normal metabolic pathways (e.g. glycolysis).
    • These reduced organic compounds are generally small organic acids and alcohols derived from pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis.
  • Oxidoreductase Protein Complexes

    • In biochemical reactions, the redox reactions are sometimes more difficult to see, such as this reaction from glycolysis: Pi + glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate + NAD+ → NADH + H+ + 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate.
  • Energy Conservation and Autotrophy in Archaea

    • For example, archaea use a modified form of glycolysis (the Entner–Doudoroff pathway) and either a complete or partial citric acid cycle.
  • Rickettsial Diseases

    • Unlike free-living bacteria, Rickettsia species contain no genes for anaerobic glycolysis or those involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of amino acids and nucleosides.
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