Glucose Metabolism and Glycolysis

Vocabulary flashcards covering the introductory concepts of cellular respiration, energy intermediates, and the phases and products of glycolysis.

ATP

The primary energy molecule of the cell, produced in large quantities to carry out cellular functions.

NADH

An energy intermediate whose specific molecular role is carrying electrons.

Energy intermediates

Molecules such as NADH that are produced during metabolic reactions and subsequently used to generate large amounts of ATP.

Glucose metabolism

The process of breaking down glucose (positioned as a reactant on the left side of the chemical equation) to produce ATP.

Spontaneous reaction

A reaction characterized by the release of a large amount of energy rather than energy investment.

Cytosol

The intracellular fluid location where glycolysis occurs, representing the only step in the pathway that takes place outside of the mitochondria.

Mitochondrial matrix

The compartment inside the mitochondria where the subsequent metabolic steps following the cytosolic reactions take place.

Energy investment phase

The first phase of glycolysis during which $2\text{ ATP}$ are hydrolyzed and used rather than produced.

Net ATP production of glycolysis

An overall yield of positive $2\text{ ATP}$, calculated as the difference between the $4\text{ ATP}$ produced and the $2\text{ ATP}$ invested.

Pyruvate

A three-carbon molecule produced at the end of glycolysis, resulting in $2$ molecules per broken-down glucose molecule.