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Glycolysis Overview and Processes

Aug 30, 2025

Overview

This lecture explains the key stages of glycolysis, highlighting its main steps, products, and important biochemical processes involved in cellular respiration.

Energy Transfer in Respiration

  • Energy from glucose can be transferred to other molecules via substrate level phosphorylation or oxidative phosphorylation.
  • Substrate level phosphorylation is when energy released from a reaction is used to form ATP directly from ADP and Pi.
  • Dehydrogenation/oxidation involves removal of hydrogen and electrons, transferring them to NAD to form reduced NAD.

Introduction to Glycolysis

  • Glycolysis is the first stage of respiration.
  • It occurs in the cytoplasm and does not require oxygen.
  • Glycolysis consists of 10 reactions, but a simplified version is typically studied.

Stages of Glycolysis

  • First, glucose (6C) reacts with 2 ATP, each contributing a phosphate group in phosphorylation, forming hexose bisphosphate.
  • Hexose bisphosphate splits (lysis) into 2 triose phosphate (3C) molecules.
  • Each triose phosphate receives an inorganic phosphate from the cytoplasm, forming triose bisphosphate.
  • Each triose bisphosphate is converted to pyruvate (3C); hydrogen is removed (oxidation), forming reduced NAD.
  • Phosphate groups are transferred to ADP to form ATP (substrate level phosphorylation).

Products of Glycolysis

  • Net gain of 2 ATP (4 produced, 2 used).
  • Formation of 2 reduced NAD molecules.
  • Production of 2 pyruvate molecules.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Glycolysis — The metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate in the cytoplasm.
  • Phosphorylation — Addition of a phosphate group to a molecule.
  • Substrate Level Phosphorylation — ATP formation by direct transfer of a phosphate group during a reaction.
  • Dehydrogenation/Oxidation — Removal of hydrogen and electrons from a molecule.
  • Reduced NAD (NADH) — NAD after it accepts hydrogen and electrons during oxidation.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Review the detailed stages of glycolysis and memorize the sequence of events.
  • Prepare for the next video/lesson on the link reaction.