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Multiple Choice
Which carbohydrate serves as the initial substrate for glycolysis?
A
Glucose
B
Sucrose
C
Galactose
D
Fructose
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the process of glycolysis. Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that breaks down carbohydrates to produce energy in the form of ATP. It occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and begins with a specific carbohydrate substrate.
Step 2: Recall the primary carbohydrate involved in glycolysis. Glycolysis starts with a six-carbon sugar molecule that is commonly found in the bloodstream and serves as the main energy source for cells.
Step 3: Analyze the options provided. Glucose is a six-carbon sugar and the most common substrate for glycolysis. Sucrose is a disaccharide that must be broken down into glucose and fructose before entering glycolysis. Galactose and fructose can also enter glycolysis, but they require additional enzymatic steps to be converted into intermediates of the pathway.
Step 4: Identify the initial substrate for glycolysis. The process begins directly with glucose, which is phosphorylated by the enzyme hexokinase to form glucose-6-phosphate, the first intermediate in glycolysis.
Step 5: Conclude that glucose is the correct answer based on its direct involvement as the initial substrate for glycolysis, while other carbohydrates require preliminary processing before entering the pathway.