Metabolic Pathways: Glycolysis and Krebs Glycolysis Glycolysis is a series of ten enzymatic reactions that break down glucose into smaller molecules, su...
Metabolic Pathways: Glycolysis and Krebs
Glycolysis
Glycolysis is a series of ten enzymatic reactions that break down glucose into smaller molecules, such as pyruvate. It occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and is the first step in the process of cellular respiration.
Steps of Glycolysis:
Glycolysis begins with the glycolysis enzyme, which breaks down glucose into two molecules of pyruvate.
The pyruvate molecules are then transported into the mitochondria, where they are further broken down by the enzymes of the citric acid cycle.
The citric acid cycle is a series of nine enzymatic reactions that further break down the pyruvate molecules into acetyl-CoA molecules.
Acetyl-CoA molecules are then used to generate energy molecules, such as ATP and NADPH.
Krebs Cycle
The Krebs cycle is a series of ten enzymatic reactions that break down acetyl-CoA molecules into carbon dioxide. It occurs in the mitochondria of cells and is the second step in the process of cellular respiration.
Steps of the Krebs Cycle:
The Krebs cycle begins with the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase, which breaks down pyruvate into acetyl-CoA molecules.
The acetyl-CoA molecules are then transported into the mitochondria, where they are further broken down by the enzymes of the citric acid cycle.
The citric acid cycle is a series of nine enzymatic reactions that further break down the acetyl-CoA molecules into carbon dioxide.
The final step in the Krebs cycle, the pyruvate dehydrogenase, combines with acetyl-CoA to form oxaloacetate.
Oxaloacetate is then used to generate energy molecules, such as ATP and NADPH.
Comparison of Glycolysis and Krebs
The main difference between glycolysis and Krebs is that glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of cells, while Krebs occurs in the mitochondria of cells. Both pathways break down glucose into smaller molecules and generate energy molecules, but they do so in different locations within the cell