In glycolysis, ________ is oxidized and ________ is reduced. a. NAD+ ... glucose b. glucose ... oxygen c. ATP ... ADP d. glucose ... NAD+

Key Concepts

Glycolysis

Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH in the process. It occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and is the first step in cellular respiration. Understanding glycolysis is essential for recognizing how energy is extracted from glucose and how it interacts with other metabolic processes.

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation and reduction are chemical processes that involve the transfer of electrons between substances. In biological systems, oxidation refers to the loss of electrons (or hydrogen atoms), while reduction refers to the gain of electrons. These processes are crucial in glycolysis, where glucose is oxidized to release energy, and NAD+ is reduced to NADH, capturing energy in a usable form.

NAD+ and NADH

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme that plays a vital role in redox reactions, acting as an electron carrier. During glycolysis, NAD+ is reduced to NADH when it accepts electrons released from glucose. This conversion is important for cellular respiration, as NADH can later be used in the electron transport chain to generate additional ATP.