Bio Question

[Lonely Sol]

Is it true that glycolysis can happen even if oxygen is present? I know it happens in absense of oxygen but does it really matter if oxygen is there?

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[wam2004]

glycolysis happens whether O2 is present or not. I think you may be confusing this with fermentation which occurs only if O2 is not present.

 

[jackbauer!]

No O2: glycolysis occurs but via fermentation pathways...producing lactic acid or ethanol. These pathways reproduce the NAD+ needed continue with the glycolytic pathway. The ATP yield of anerobic glycolytic respiration is 2 ATP.

jb!

 

[Streetwolf]

You breathe in O2 right? And you still have energy.

 

[golfmontpoker]

Jack is right. O2 is not needed for glycolysis itself. Glycolysis yields 2 ATP and 2 NADH. In the absense of O2, glycolysis goes into a fermentation pathway producing lactic acid or ethanol. O2 is needed for the electron acceptor during oxidative phosphorylation.

 

[Nasem]

You breathe in O2 right? And you still have energy.

Sry I don't mean to be off topic, but Streetwolf, you got some insane stats yo. What is your I.Q like?

 

[Streetwolf]

Never taken an IQ test where I actually find out results (those online things don't count!).

Though back in junior yr of HS I took a test to qualify for Mensa and I passed. Who knows whether or not it was a scam though... they charge $40/yr membership haha.

 

[cdmOMR]

Just some additional info...In the absence of O2, glycolysis is the main producer of ATP (quick, but low yeild of ATP), along with fermentation to produce 2 more ATP and catabolize pyruvate to ethanol/lactic acid. This can be the primary source of energy in an organism (anerobic bacteria-I think O2 is actually harmful to these bacteria if I remember correctly) or glycolysis can function mainly as a producer of 2 pyruvate that can undergo aerobic respiration, with the ATP (and NADH) generated by glycolysis just being frosting on the cake. However if the source of O2 can not keep up with aerobic respiration (ie. strenuous activity), the system backs up and the pyruvate produced from glycolysis undergoes fermentation to lactic acid (ie. why your muscles get sore after said strenuous activity)