Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the primary function of glycolysis in cellular metabolism?
A
To produce oxygen and water as byproducts
B
To convert glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH
C
To break down fatty acids into acetyl-CoA
D
To synthesize glucose from pyruvate
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context of glycolysis: Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and is the first step in the breakdown of glucose to extract energy for cellular metabolism.
Identify the main purpose of glycolysis: The primary function of glycolysis is to convert glucose, a six-carbon sugar, into two molecules of pyruvate, a three-carbon compound.
Recognize the energy yield: During glycolysis, energy is captured in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), which are essential for cellular activities.
Differentiate glycolysis from other metabolic processes: Glycolysis does not involve the production of oxygen and water as byproducts, nor does it break down fatty acids into acetyl-CoA or synthesize glucose from pyruvate.
Summarize the key outputs: The conversion of glucose into pyruvate during glycolysis results in the generation of ATP and NADH, which are used in subsequent cellular processes such as the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.