Question

What is the end product of glycolysis in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells? How many carbon atoms does the molecule have?

1) Acetyl CoA; it has two carbon atoms attached to coenzyme A
2) Phosphoenolpyruvate; it has three carbon atoms
3) Glucose 6-phosphate; it has six carbon atoms
4) Pyruvate; it has three carbon atoms
5) Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate; it has three carbon atoms

Answer 1

The end product of glycolysis is pyruvate, and it has three carbon atoms; hence, the correct option is 4) Pyruvate; it has three carbon atoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The end product of glycolysis in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells is pyruvate, each molecule of which has three carbon atoms. During glycolysis, a single six-carbon glucose molecule is broken down into two three-carbon pyruvate molecules. This process generates a net gain of two ATP molecules and two NADH molecules.

Pyruvate may then enter the mitochondria, where it is converted into acetyl CoA during a process known as the oxidative decarboxylation reaction.In the cytoplasm, glucose is converted into pyruvate through a series of enzymatic reactions. This generates a small amount of ATP and NADH.

Pyruvate can then be further metabolized in the mitochondria to produce more ATP through the Krebs cycle. Therefore, the correct option that identifies the end product of glycolysis and the number of carbon atoms it has is:4) Pyruvate; it has three carbon atoms.