how are proteins associated with glycolysis?
Biology · Middle School · Thu Feb 04 2021
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Proteins are essential to the process of glycolysis because they function as enzymes that catalyze the biochemical reactions in the pathway. Glycolysis is a sequence of ten enzyme-mediated reactions that convert glucose into pyruvate, producing energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) in the process.
Here is a brief overview of how proteins are associated with glycolysis through the role of enzymes for each step of the pathway:
1.Hexokinase/Glucokinase:These enzymes catalyze the phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. This reaction consumes an ATP molecule, which is why it's called an "investment phase".
2.Phosphoglucose Isomerase: It converts glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate by rearranging its atoms.
3.Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1): This enzyme transfers a phosphate group from another ATP molecule to fructose-6-phosphate, forming fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. This step is a key regulatory point in glycolysis.
4. Aldolase: It splits fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into two three-carbon molecules: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP).
5. Triosephosphate Isomerase:This enzyme converts DHAP to G3P so that the subsequent steps of glycolysis can proceed in a uniform fashion.