Elementary plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2+1)

Significance of glycolysis

 
• Glycolysis is an almost universal central pathway of glucose catabolism occurring in the cytoplasm of all the tissues of biological systems leading to generation of energy in the form of ATP for vital activities
• It is the pathway through which the largest flux of carbon occurs in most cells
• Some plant tissues which are modified for the storage of starch such as potato tubers and some plants adapted to growth in inundated water such as water cress derive most of their energy from glycolysis
• In plants, glycolysis is the key metabolic component of the respiratory process, which generates energy in the form of ATP in
• Many types of anaerobic microorganisms are entirely dependent on glycolysis
• Mammalian tissues such as renal medulla and brain solely dependent on glycolysis for major sources of metabolic energy