Final answer:
Mature mammalian red blood cells rely exclusively on glycolysis to supply them with ATP, as they cannot carry out aerobic respiration due to the lack of mitochondria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cells that rely exclusively on glycolysis for their supply of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) are mature mammalian red blood cells. These cells do not have mitochondria, and thus cannot perform aerobic respiration. Instead, they rely on the anaerobic process of glycolysis taking place in the cytoplasm to produce ATP. In conditions such as pyruvate kinase deficiency, the inability to complete glycolysis can lead to energy shortages within the red blood cells, causing irreversible membrane damage, cellular distortion, rigidity, and ultimately, lysis.
It is important to note that most body cells can metabolize other organic compounds for fuel, but all cells can use glucose. However, certain cells, such as red blood cells and neurons, rely solely on glucose. Glycolysis enables these cells to obtain energy in the absence of oxygen, providing vital ATP for their functions. If the glycolysis pathway is disrupted in red blood cells, it leads to their demise as they cannot maintain necessary functions such as the sodium-potassium pumps.