Question

In respiration, the end product of glycolysis process is

• A. Phosphoglyceric acid
• B. Phosphenolpyruvic acid
• C. Alanine
• D. Pyruvic acid

Hint:

EMP Pathway (Glycolysis) product: 1 Glucose $\longrightarrow$ 2 Pyruvic acid + 2 net ATP + 2 NADH. Occurs in Cytoplasm.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Glycolysis (the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas or EMP pathway) is the universal anaerobic cytosolic sequence of enzymatic reactions converting hexose sugars into three-carbon keto acids.
Key Formula or Approach:
\[ \text{Glucose (6C)} + 2\text{NAD}^+ + 2\text{ADP} + 2\text{P}_i \longrightarrow 2\text{ Pyruvic Acid (3C)} + 2\text{NADH} + 2\text{H}^+ + 2\text{ATP} \]

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In cellular respiration:
Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of all living cells.
A single six-carbon glucose molecule undergoes a 10-step enzymatic degradation into two molecules of 3-carbon pyruvic acid (pyruvate).
This pyruvate subsequently enters the mitochondria for oxidative decarboxylation into Acetyl-CoA and the Krebs cycle under aerobic conditions.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, the end product of glycolysis is Pyruvic acid, corresponding to option (D).