Question

what is produced by glycolysis

why is oxygen important to aerobic metabolism? explain its role

Answer 1

Glycolysis is the initial step in the break down of glucose to produce energy. At the end of glycolysis the single glucose molecule is broken down into two pyruvate molecules as end product and two NADH and two ATP molecules are produced at various steps of glycolysis.

Oxygen is essential got aerobic respiration because it acts as an electron acceptor in ETC. During electron transport chain Oxygen is the only molecule that captures the reactive electron from FADH2 and NADH and convert into water by fusing with H+ ion. Due to this electron transport only huge amount of ATP is produced. In absence of Oxygen the electrons will start to accumulate and inhibit the Kreb cycle by blocking electron transport. Hence less ATP will be generated. Thus oxygen is necessary to carry out Kreb cycle and produce large amount of ATP beacuse they help in ETC.

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