Final answer:
During glycolysis, 2-phosphoglycerate is dehydrated by the enzyme Enolase to form phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), a reaction that releases a water molecule and is an important step for ATP production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked about the biochemical process where 2-phosphoglycerate is dehydrated to yield phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). This reaction is facilitated by the enzyme Enolase, which is a key step in the metabolic pathway known as glycolysis. In this process, 2-phosphoglycerate undergoes dehydration, meaning that a water molecule is removed. The specific transformation involves the conversion of 2-phosphoglycerate to PEP, and this reaction releases water, potassium, and magnesium as byproducts.
In the broader context of glycolysis, this step is significant because it prepares the compound for subsequent high-energy ATP production. The conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate to 2-phosphoglycerate is carried out by the enzyme phosphoglycerate mutase before enolase acts on 2-phosphoglycerate to form PEP. As PEP is a high energy molecule, its subsequent conversion to pyruvate results in the generation of ATP, thus playing a crucial role in cellular energy production.