Final answer:
The splitting of glucose into two pyruvate molecules is called glycolysis. This bioenergetic process includes an energy investment phase and an energy payoff phase, culminating in the generation of ATP and NADH.
Step-by-step explanation:
What is Glycolysis?
The process of splitting glucose into two molecules of pyruvate is known as glycolysis. During glycolysis, each glucose molecule undergoes a transformation into two three-carbon molecules named pyruvate. This transformation happens through a sequence of enzymatic reactions that can be split into two main phases: the energy investment phase and the energy payoff phase.
In the initial phase, the glucose molecule is 'trapped' inside the cell and modified at the cost of two ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules. This is followed by the cleavage phase, where the six-carbon structure is evenly split into two three-carbon molecules of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (GAP), which are then converted into pyruvate. The second part of glycolysis, known as the harvest stage, is where the cell gains ATP and NADH - a reduced form of NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).
This biological process is crucial for cellular respiration and energy production in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In fact, glycolysis is the initial step for both aerobic respiration where oxygen is present, and for fermentation which occurs when oxygen is absent.