*Detailed notes of "Glycolysis" for Class 11th & (NEET-UG) 💎

Let's Break It Down: A Simple Guide to Glycolysis in Cells

Introduction:

Glycolysis is like the cellular power plant, turning glucose into energy. It's the first step in cellular respiration and happens in the cell's cytoplasm. Imagine it as a 10-step dance where glucose transforms into two smaller dancers called pyruvate. Let's take a closer look at each step in this energy-packed routine.

Step 1: Glucose Gets Ready

In the first step, glucose puts on its dancing shoes by borrowing energy from ATP. It becomes glucose-6-phosphate with the help of an enzyme called hexokinase.

$\text{Glucose + ATP}\stackrel{\text{Hexokinase}}{\to }\text{Glucose-6-phosphate + ADP}$

Step 2: Shape Shift

To prepare for the dance floor, glucose-6-phosphate changes its outfit to fructose-6-phosphate. This transformation is done by an enzyme called phosphoglucose isomerase.

$\text{Glucose-6-phosphate}\stackrel{\text{Phosphoglucose isomerase}}{\to }\text{Fructose-6-phosphate}$

Step 3: More Energy Investment

Now, fructose-6-phosphate needs more energy to keep the dance going. It borrows another ATP to become fructose-1,6-bisphosphate with the help of phosphofructokinase.

$\text{Fructose-6-phosphate + ATP}\stackrel{\text{Phosphofructokinase}}{\to }\text{Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate + ADP}$

Step 4: Splitting Up

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate splits into two smaller dancers: dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. This division is guided by the aldolase enzyme.

$\text{Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate}\stackrel{\text{Aldolase}}{\to }\text{Dihydroxyacetone phosphate + Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate}$

Steps 5: Collecting Energy

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate goes through a series of moves, creating energy (ATP) and gathering a partner (NADH) for the next steps.

Step 6: The Finale

In the last step, dihydroxyacetone phosphate turns into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, making sure both partners are ready for the final dance moves.

$\text{Dihydroxyacetone phosphate}\stackrel{\text{Triose phosphate isomerase}}{\to }\text{Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate}$

Conclusion:

Glycolysis is like a choreographed dance that cells use to get energy from glucose. By following these steps, cells produce ATP and NADH, essential for keeping the cellular party going. Understanding glycolysis helps us appreciate the fantastic ways living cells create energy for life.