Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

22. Carbohydrate Metabolism

Intro to Glycolysis

GOB Chemistry

22. Carbohydrate Metabolism

Intro to Glycolysis

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1:55 minutes

Problem 21

Textbook Question

How is ATP used in the initial steps of glycolysis?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing energy in the form of ATP and NADH. The initial steps of glycolysis are energy-investment steps where ATP is consumed to prepare glucose for further breakdown.

In the first step of glycolysis, ATP is used to phosphorylate glucose. This reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme hexokinase, and the product is glucose-6-phosphate. The reaction can be represented as:

ATP + {glucose}_{6} → {glucose}_{6} phosphate + ADP

In the third step of glycolysis, another ATP molecule is used. The enzyme phosphofructokinase catalyzes the phosphorylation of fructose-6-phosphate to form fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. This reaction can be represented as:

ATP + {fructose}_{6} phosphate → {fructose}_{1,6} bisphosphate + ADP

Recognize that the phosphorylation of glucose and fructose-6-phosphate by ATP makes these molecules more reactive and traps them inside the cell, as phosphorylated sugars cannot easily cross the cell membrane.

Summarize that ATP is used in the initial steps of glycolysis to invest energy, enabling the glucose molecule to be primed for subsequent breakdown and energy extraction in later steps of the pathway.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

ATP is the primary energy carrier in all living organisms. It consists of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups. The energy stored in the high-energy bonds between the phosphate groups is released when ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP and inorganic phosphate, making it essential for various cellular processes, including glycolysis.

Glycolysis

Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH in the process. It occurs in the cytoplasm and consists of ten enzymatic reactions, divided into two phases: the energy investment phase and the energy payoff phase. The initial steps of glycolysis require ATP to phosphorylate glucose and its derivatives, facilitating subsequent reactions.

Phosphorylation

Phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate group to a molecule, which often alters the molecule's activity or function. In glycolysis, the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate is a crucial step that traps glucose in the cell and prepares it for further breakdown. This process is catalyzed by the enzyme hexokinase and is vital for the regulation of glucose metabolism.

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