METABOLISM
GLYCOLYSIS
Gycolysis literally means the breakdown of sugar (Glyc = sugar or sweet and Lysis = to cut or loosen). Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. Beginning on the next page, you will find depictions of the step by step biochemical reactions that make up Glycolysis. In short, glycolysis takes 1 glucose molecule of 6 carbons and makes two 3 carbon molecules called pyruvate. In the process, electrons and hydrogen atoms are captured by NAD+. Any energy liberated will be released as heat, or captured as ATP or NADH.
|
Molecule |
Net Yield through Glycolysis |
|
ATP NADH Pyruvate |
2 2 2 |
Glycogenesis
It should be noted that when there is a surplus of glucose, some of the glucose will be converted to glycogen. Later, when blood sugar begins to fall, glycogen can be broken down into monomers of glucose again, which will enter glycolysis. Glycogen synthesis is an important process to help us store" sugar for use when we are not eating but need to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels.
We have here a very detailed figure for the 10 steps of glycolysis. It has more information than you will need for the exam (remember, the exam will test you at the level of the "summary" figure that you got previously). However, this image is nice to have as a reference and can help you if you find videos or information in your online research that uses terminology not found in the summary figure. Click Here to get this reference file.
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