Question

During glycolysis, what enzyme splits a 6-carbon molecule into two 3-carbon molecules (dihydroacetone phosphate and glyceraldhyde 3-phosphate)?

a. glycolyase
b. hexokinase
c. enolase
d. fructose bisphosphate aldolase
e. fumarase

Answer 1

The enzyme that splits a six-carbon molecule into two three-carbon molecules during glycolysis is fructose bisphosphate aldolase (aldolase).

Step-by-step explanation:

Enzyme Involved in Glycolysis

During the glycolysis pathway, there is a critical step where a six-carbon molecule, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, is split into two three-carbon molecules. The enzyme responsible for this reaction is called fructose bisphosphate aldolase, commonly referred to as aldolase. After aldolase acts on the six-carbon sugar, two three-carbon molecules are produced, which are glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP). The latter is converted into another molecule of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate by the action of another enzyme, triosephosphate isomerase. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is d. fructose bisphosphate aldolase.