Glycolysis
Biology: IB Diploma Higher Level, topic 9.3.1
Glycolysis
Respiration produces ATP and can be either aerobic or anaerobic. Glycolysis is the first stage in both these processes. Glycolysis happens in the cytoplasm and is an anaerobic process.
Phosphorylation
- The first step in glycolysis involves the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose phosphate using one molecule of ATP.
- Glucose phosphate is phosphorylated by another molecule of ATP to hexose bisphosphate (a six-carbon molecule)
- Hexose bisphosphate splits into two molecules of triose phosphate (TP).
Oxidation
- The two molecules of TP are oxidised to pyruvate (another three-carbon molecule) in a multi-step reaction.
- A single TP molecule produces two molecules of ATP and one molecule of reduced NAD (NADH) in this process.
Net gain
- 2 ATP molecules.
- 2 NADH molecules.
Test yourself on Glycolysis
What is the net gain of glycolysis?
Which of the following statements about glycolysis are true?
The Process of Glycolysis