In the process of aerobic respiration, specifically during the glycolysis stage, a glucose molecule (C6H12O6) undergoes a series of reactions that lead to its split. Glycolysis is facilitated by the presence of NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide), which acts as an electron carrier.
1. Overview of Glycolysis:
- Glycolysis involves the breaking down of a six-carbon glucose molecule into two three-carbon molecules known as pyruvate.
- Before the split, glucose is converted into various intermediate forms.
2. Step-by-Step Breakdown:
- The six-carbon glucose molecule is phosphorylated using two ATP molecules, converting it to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.
- This fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is then split into two three-carbon molecules of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P).
3. Further Conversion:
- Each G3P molecule undergoes a series of reactions that produce pyruvate.
- During these steps, NAD+ is reduced to NADH, and ATP is generated.
4. Result of Glycolysis:
- The initial glucose molecule has been split into two molecules of pyruvate, each containing three carbon atoms.
Thus, the initial result of the split of a glucose molecule (C6H12O6) facilitated by NAD+ can be represented as two three-carbon molecules:
[tex]\[
\begin{aligned}
& \text{C-C-C} \\
& \text{C-C-C}
\end{aligned}
\][/tex]
In summary, when a glucose molecule undergoes glycolysis in the presence of NAD+, it is split into two molecules of pyruvate, each consisting of three carbon atoms.
