Anaerobic Catabolism of Glucose

In the absence of oxygen, some cells are able to make ATP by the anaerobic catabolism of glucose. There are two phases of anaerobic catabolism of glucose: glycolysis and lactate formation. In glycolysis, glucose is broken into two 3-carbon molecules that are then oxidized and manipulated to yield ATP. Two ATP are required to energize the glucose and four are made by glycolysis so the NET yield is two ATP. Pyruvate, the 3-carbon end-product of glycolysis, is reduced by the NADH made during glycolysis.

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Written by J. Ellen Lathrop-Davis, M.Sc.
CCBC - Catonsville
Summer Grant, 2002
All Rights Reserved