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What is the initial step in glycolysis?
  • a)
    Conversion of glucose to fructose-6-phosphate
  • b)
    Conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate
  • c)
    Conversion of fructose to glucose-6-phosphate
  • d)
    Conversion of fructose to fructose-6-phosphate
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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What is the initial step in glycolysis?a)Conversion of glucose to fruc...
The initial step in glycolysis is the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate. This process is catalyzed by the enzyme hexokinase. In this step, a phosphate group is added to glucose, forming glucose-6-phosphate.
This phosphorylation of glucose is an important regulatory step in glycolysis and helps to trap glucose within the cell, preventing it from freely diffusing out.
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What is the initial step in glycolysis?a)Conversion of glucose to fruc...
The initial step in glycolysis is the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate.

The process of glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH in the process. It occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and is the first step in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate:
1. Glucose uptake: Glucose enters the cell through glucose transporters present in the plasma membrane. This transport is facilitated by glucose transport proteins, such as GLUT1 and GLUT4.

2. Phosphorylation of glucose: Once inside the cell, glucose is immediately phosphorylated by the enzyme hexokinase. This reaction requires the input of ATP and produces glucose-6-phosphate. Hexokinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a phosphate group from ATP to glucose, creating glucose-6-phosphate and ADP.

3. Role of hexokinase: Hexokinase has a high affinity for glucose, ensuring that glucose is rapidly phosphorylated upon entering the cell. By phosphorylating glucose, hexokinase traps glucose inside the cell, preventing it from freely diffusing out. This is important because glucose-6-phosphate cannot easily cross the plasma membrane.

4. Importance of glucose-6-phosphate: The conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate is essential for several reasons:
- The phosphorylation of glucose allows for the trapping of glucose inside the cell.
- Glucose-6-phosphate is a charged molecule that cannot readily diffuse across the plasma membrane, ensuring its retention within the cell.
- Glucose-6-phosphate is a key intermediate in glycolysis and can be further metabolized to produce ATP and other energy-rich compounds.

In summary, the initial step in glycolysis involves the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate through the action of the enzyme hexokinase. This step is crucial for trapping glucose inside the cell and initiating the process of glycolysis, ultimately leading to the production of ATP and other energy molecules.
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Read the passage given below and answer the following questions:Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy carrying molecule found in the cells of all living things. ATP captures chemical energy obtained from the breakdown of food molecules and releases it to fuel other cellular processes. ATP is a nucleotide that consists of three main structures: the nitrogenous base, adenine; the sugar, ribose; and a chain of three phosphate groups bound to ribose. The phosphate tail of ATP is the actual power source which the cell taps. Available energy is contained in the bonds between the phosphates and is released when they are broken, which occurs through the addition of a water molecule (a process called hydrolysis). Usually only the outer phosphate is removed from ATP to yield energy; when this occurs ATP is converted to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), the form of the nucleotide having only two phosphates.The importance of ATP (adenosine triphosphat e) as the main source of chemical energy in living matter and its involvement in cellular processes has long been recognized. The primary mechanism whereby higher organisms, including humans, generate ATP is through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. For the majority of organs, the main metabolic fuel is glucose, which in the presence of oxygen undergoes complete combustion to CO2 and H2O: C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6O2 + 6H2O + energyThe free energy (ΔG) liberated in this exergonic (ΔG is negative) reaction is partially trapped as ATP in two consecutive processes: glycolysis (cytosol) and oxidative phosphorylation (mitochondri

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What is the initial step in glycolysis?a)Conversion of glucose to fructose-6-phosphateb)Conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphatec)Conversion of fructose to glucose-6-phosphated)Conversion of fructose to fructose-6-phosphateCorrect answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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