Final answer:
The enzyme responsible for converting F6P to F16BP in the glycolysis pathway is phosphofructokinase, which is an allosterically regulated enzyme critical for controlling the rate of glycolysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The enzyme that changes fructose-6-phosphate (F6P) to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (F16BP) is known as phosphofructokinase. This reaction is a key step in the glycolysis pathway, where a molecule of ATP is used to add a second phosphate group to F6P, producing F16BP. Phosphofructokinase is an allosterically regulated enzyme, meaning its activity can be modified by the binding of certain metabolites to specific sites on the enzyme, allowing cells to regulate the rate of glycolysis according to their energy needs.
During glycolysis, various enzymes work in a sequence to convert glucose into pyruvate. The conversion from F6P to F16BP by phosphofructokinase is particularly important because it is an irreversible step and serves as a point of regulation for the glycolytic pathway. This reaction is influenced by the levels of ATP and other metabolites, which can bind to phosphofructokinase and modulate its activity, contributing to the fine-tuned control of energy production in cells.