Introduction to Glycolysis

Glycolysis has two key functions:

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   Generate some ATP from the free energy available from the rearrangement of the atoms in monosacharides (particularly glucose).
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   To partially break down glucose and so provide a starting point for the complete oxidation of glucose by another pathway to carbon dioxide and water with the generation of much ATP. The pathway is named for this splitting function - lysis of glucose=glycolysis.

Glycolysis probably evolved billions of years ago when there was hardly any molecular oxygen present in the atmosphere and so the second function would be a later development. This tutorial concentrates on glycolysis taking place in anaerobic conditions.