Final answer:
Glucose 6-phosphate is converted into fructose 6-phosphate by the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate isomerase through an isomerization reaction in the metabolic pathway of glycolysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the process of glycolysis, the compound glucose 6-phosphate (6C) is converted into fructose 6-phosphate (6C) through an isomerization reaction. This reaction is facilitated by the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate isomerase.
Isomerization is where one molecule is converted into another molecule with the same chemical formula but a different structural configuration. In this case, the enzyme rearranges the atoms within glucose 6-phosphate to transform it into fructose 6-phosphate, allowing it to be further processed in the metabolic pathway.
The conversion does not involve a change in the number of carbon atoms; both glucose 6-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate have six carbons. This step is crucial as it allows for the eventual cleavage of the six-carbon molecule into two three-carbon molecules, which further undergoes reactions resulting in the generation of energy for the cell.