the.com/glycolysis
the cell's fastest way to turn sugar into cash, no oxygen required.
means a ten-step chemical assembly line that breaks one glucose molecule into two pyruvate molecules, netting a small usable profit of energy.
from from greek glykys, sweet, and lysis, loosening or splitting apart, named for literally cleaving sugar in half.
net gainonly 2 atp per glucose, oddly modest
ancient trickpredates oxygen-using life by billions of years
universalruns in nearly every organism, from yeast to whales
split decisionone glucose becomes two three-carbon pieces
for instance
sprinting muscle — relies on glycolysis when oxygen delivery cannot keep pace
cancer cells — warburg effect, 1920s, favor glycolysis even with oxygen present
red blood cells — lack mitochondria, depend on glycolysis entirely for energy
fermenting yeast — drives beer and bread by running glycolysis then fermenting pyruvate