What is the primary product formed at the end of glycolysis?

✅Explanation: Glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration, where glucose is broken down into simpler molecules. Pyruvic acid (or pyruvate) is the primary product formed at the end of glycolysis. In this process, one molecule of glucose (a six-carbon sugar) is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate (three carbon atoms each). This process also produces ATP and NADH, which are used in later stages of cellular respiration.

🛑Aditional Information:
-Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, releasing energy in the form of two net molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
-It is an anaerobic process that occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.

• Step-by-step explanation of the glycolysis process:
Glucose Activation (Preparatory Phase): In this phase, glucose is prepared for the subsequent steps, and this phase ends up consuming energy.
-Step 1: Phosphorylation of Glucose: Glucose is converted into glucose-6-phosphate by the enzyme hexokinase. This step uses one molecule of ATP, converting it to ADP.
-Step 2: Conversion to Fructose-6-phosphate: Glucose-6-phosphate is rearranged into fructose-6-phosphate by the enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase.
-Step 3: Phosphorylation of Fructose-6-Phosphate: Fructose-6-phosphate is converted into fructose-1,6-bisphosphate by the enzyme phosphofructokinase. This step uses another molecule of ATP.
-Step 4: Cleavage of Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate: The enzyme fructose-bisphosphate aldolase splits fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into two three-carbon sugars: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP).
-Step 5: Conversion of DHAP to G3P: The enzyme triose phosphate isomerase converts dihydroxyacetone phosphate into a second molecule of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate.
Energy Extraction (Payoff Phase): In this phase, the glucose molecule has been split into two 3-carbon compounds, and ATP and NADH are produced when these are further broken down.
-Step 6: Oxidation of G3P: Each G3P is converted into 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (BPG) by the enzyme glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase. In this step, one molecule of NAD+ is reduced to form NADH per G3P.
-Step 7: Production of ATP: Each BPG molecule is converted into 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG) by the enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase. This step produces one ATP per BPG.
-Step 8: Conversion to 2-phosphoglycerate (2PG): Each 3PG molecule is rearranged into 2PG by the enzyme phosphoglycerate mutase.
-Step 9: Dehydration to form Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP): Each 2PG molecule is dehydrated to form PEP by the enzyme enolase.
-Step 10: Production of Pyruvate and ATP: Each PEP is converted into pyruvate by the enzyme pyruvate kinase, producing a second molecule of ATP.