- Process that breaks down glucose and releases energy to form:
- 2 Pyruvate (stores potential energy)
- Pyruvate is acidic
- 2 (net) ATP (from ADP)
- NADH (from NAD+)
- Inorganic phosphate
- 2 Pyruvate (stores potential energy)
- 2 Stages
- Energy Investment: invests 2 ATP to get glycolysis started
- Energy Payoff: creates 4 ATP
- Occurs in the cytosol of the cell with or without oxygen
NAD+ ⇒ NADH
- NAD+ combines with 1 proton and 2 electrons to make NADH (reduction)
- Reverse: NADH broken down to form NAD+
- NADH: reducing agent, carries the electrons to the ETC in mitochondria
Pyruvate Oxidation
- Pyruvate is actively transported from the cytosol to the mitochondrial matrix where further oxidation occurs
- Transportation depends on proton-motive force (H+ gradient)
- Pyruvate loses carbon from acetyl group→ remaining carbon transferred to coenzyme A (CoA)
- Result: 2 acetyl CoA, 2 NADH & 2 CO2 made
- Acetyl CoA: coenzyme, high potential energy, will be oxidized in Krebs Cycle