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The process of glycolysis
Glycolysis, which begins the breakdown of glucose, is a series of ten enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions that harvest pyruvate, ATP,and NADH.
In the first part of glycolysis, some ATP energy is used to start the process of glucose oxidation. By the end of this part, a 6-carbon molecule (glucose) has been split into two 3-carbon molecules of glyceraldehyde phosphate.
The 3-carbon glyceraldehyde phosphate molecules now enter the part of glycolysis where energy is made. Chemical bonds are broken, and NAD+ picks up electrons and hydrogen ions, forming NADH. The energy released is used to attach phosphate groups. The phosphates are transferred to ADP, finally making some ATP. A couple more reactions rearrange the atoms in to 3-carbon molecules. More ATP is generated in the final reaction that yields pyruvate. For each glucose molecule broken down during glycolysis, a net of two ATPs are formed along with two NADH molecules.
The equation of glycolysis
Glucose + 2ATP + 2NAD+ + 4ADP + 2Phosphrous ----> 2Pyruvate + 2ADP + 2NADH+H+ + 4ATP + 2Water
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Above is an animated representation of glycolysis. Note that glycolysis is anaerobic and takes place in the cytoplasm.
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