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Glycolysis Overview

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that initiates the breakdown of glucose through a series of 10 enzyme-catalyzed reactions, divided into two main phases: the energy investment phase and the energy payoff phase.

Energy Investment Phase

• In this phase, ATP is utilized to initiate the oxidation of glucose.
• A six-carbon glucose molecule is broken down into two three-carbon molecules of glyceraldehyde phosphate.

Energy Payoff Phase

• The three-carbon glyceraldehyde phosphate molecules enter this phase.
• Chemical bonds are cleaved, and NAD+ acts as an electron acceptor, forming NADH.
• Energy from this process is used to attach phosphate groups, producing ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation.
• Further rearrangements yield pyruvate, resulting in the generation of additional ATP.

ATP and NADH Production

• The net yield from one glucose molecule during glycolysis is 2 ATP and 2 NADH molecules.