Question

Which of the following might be a good rationale for an phosphorylation step in glycolysis? Select all that apply.

a. To keep a metabolite from leaving the cell
b. To provide a chemical group that can be used to make ATP To stabilize a metabolite
c. to make it resistant to future chemical modifications
d. To alter the location of a bond beta to a carbonyl

Answer 1

Phosphorylation in glycolysis provides a chemical group for ATP synthesis, stabilizes metabolites, and makes metabolites resistant to future modifications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The rationale for phosphorylation in glycolysis includes:

• To provide a chemical group that can be used to make ATP: Phosphorylation of glucose in the first step of glycolysis creates a high-energy but unstable intermediate, which releases energy to form ATP later in the pathway.
• To stabilize a metabolite: Phosphorylation helps stabilize metabolites, such as glucose, by adding a phosphate group, making them less likely to leave the cell.
• To make a metabolite resistant to future modifications: Phosphorylation alters the structure of metabolites, making them resistant to certain chemical modifications.