Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, and it occurs in the cytosol of cells in most organisms. This process releases free energy, which is used to form high-energy molecules such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) . Glycolysis is an ancient metabolic pathway found in the majority of organisms and is the first step in the breakdown of glucose to extract energy for cellular metabolism. It is a series of reactions that extract energy from glucose by splitting it into two three-carbon molecules called pyruvates. Glycolysis can be separated into two phases: an energy-requiring phase, where ATP is consumed, and an energy-releasing phase. The net products of glycolysis are two molecules of ATP and two molecules of NADH. The process ultimately splits glucose into two pyruvate molecules. Glycolysis is an important pathway for cells as it produces ATP and other products such as NADH and pyruvate that can be used later to produce more ATP.
In summary, glycolysis is a fundamental metabolic pathway that plays a crucial role in extracting energy from glucose to support cellular functions. It is a well-studied process that has evolved in nearly all types of organisms and is essential for the production of ATP and other high-energy molecules.
