Glycolysis animation || 10 Steps of Glycolysis

Summary

This animation explains glycolysis, the process of breaking down glucose to produce energy. It involves 10 key steps, starting with the phosphorylation of glucose and ending with the production of pyruvate. During these steps, ATP and NADH are generated, which provide energy and carry electrons for further processes. Glycolysis is an ancient pathway found in almost all organisms and occurs in the cell's cytoplasm. The process can function in the absence of oxygen, making it essential for anaerobic conditions. This video walks through each step of glycolysis, highlighting its importance in cellular respiration.

Takeaways

• 😀 Glycolysis is the process by which glucose is broken down to produce energy in the form of ATP and NADH.
• 😀 It occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and does not require oxygen, making it an anaerobic process.
• 😀 The process begins with the phosphorylation of glucose by the enzyme hexokinase, forming glucose-6-phosphate (G6P).
• 😀 In step 2, glucose-6-phosphate is isomerized into fructose-6-phosphate by the enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase.
• 😀 Step 3 involves the phosphorylation of fructose-6-phosphate to form fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) with the help of phosphofructokinase.
• 😀 The enzyme aldolase splits fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into two molecules: dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAP).
• 😀 DHAP is isomerized into GAP by triose-phosphate isomerase in step 5, preparing it for further reactions.
• 😀 In step 6, GAP is oxidized by glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), producing NADH and forming 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (BPG).
• 😀 The enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase transfers a phosphate from BPG to ADP in step 7, generating ATP and forming 3-phosphoglycerate.
• 😀 Step 9 involves the dehydration of 2-phosphoglycerate to form phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), which has a high-energy phosphate bond.
• 😀 In the final step, pyruvate kinase transfers a phosphate from PEP to ADP, producing ATP and pyruvate, the end product of glycolysis.

Q & A

What is glycolysis?

Glycolysis is a series of chemical reactions that break down glucose, a six-carbon sugar, into two molecules of pyruvate, a three-carbon compound. It is a key process in cellular respiration, producing ATP and NADH for energy.

Where does glycolysis take place in the cell?

Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.

What are the products of glycolysis?

The products of glycolysis are two molecules of pyruvate, two molecules of ATP, and two molecules of NADH.

Does glycolysis require oxygen?

No, glycolysis does not require oxygen. It can occur under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

What happens in Step 1 of glycolysis?

In Step 1, glucose is phosphorylated by the enzyme hexokinase. A phosphate group is transferred from ATP to glucose, forming glucose-6-phosphate.

What is the function of the enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase in glycolysis?

Phosphoglucose isomerase catalyzes the isomerization of glucose-6-phosphate into fructose-6-phosphate, converting the molecule from an aldose to a ketose sugar.

What occurs during Step 3 of glycolysis?

In Step 3, fructose-6-phosphate is phosphorylated by phosphofructokinase, using another ATP molecule to form fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.

How is ATP generated during glycolysis?

ATP is generated through substrate-level phosphorylation in several steps of glycolysis, particularly in Steps 7 and 10, where phosphate groups are transferred to ADP to form ATP.

What is the role of NADH in glycolysis?

In Step 6 of glycolysis, NAD⁺ is reduced to NADH when it accepts electrons from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, which helps in further energy production in the cell.

What happens to pyruvate after glycolysis?

After glycolysis, pyruvate can undergo further processing depending on the availability of oxygen. In aerobic conditions, it enters the mitochondria for the citric acid cycle. In anaerobic conditions, it can be converted to lactate or ethanol.