AP Biology : Understanding Glycolysis

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Understanding Glycolysis

Which of the following processes in eukaryotic cellular respiration can occur in an anaerobic environment?

Possible Answers:

Glycolysis

Citric acid cycle

Oxidative phosphorylation

Pyruvate decarboxylation

Correct answer:

Glycolysis

Explanation:

Glycolysis is the first step of cellular respiration and, in the process of splitting glucose into two pyruvate molecules, does not require oxygen.

Pyruvate decarboxylation, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation are all steps in aerobic respiration, and thus require the presence of oxygen.

Example Question #22 : Understanding Glycolysis

Metabolic pathways that release energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler compounds are referred to as __________.

Possible Answers:

destructive

degradative

catabolic

anabolic

Correct answer:

catabolic

Explanation:

Catabolic pathways release energy by breaking down complex molecules. Anabolic pathways build molecules from simpler ones.

Example Question #23 : Understanding Glycolysis

The purpose of fermentation is to replenish the __________ needed for glycolysis to proceed.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Glycolysis creates a net phosphorylation of 2  in the process of breaking down a glucose into a pyruvate while converting 2  into 2 . Without , glycolysis cannot be used to make , and the purpose of fermentation is to replenish the needed .

Example Question #22 : Understanding Glycolysis

What is the net production of ATP molecules in glycolysis?

Possible Answers:

1

3

4

5

2

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

The net production of ATP is 2. 

This is because for glycolysis to occur, 2 ATP must be used. Glycolysis goes on to produce 4 ATP. The loss of 2 ATP and the gain of 4 ATP results in a total net gain of 2 ATP molecules. Note that the ATP produced during glycolysis are via substrate level phosphorylation.

Example Question #23 : Understanding Glycolysis

In what part of the cell does glycolysis occur?

Possible Answers:

Cytoplasm

Mitochondrial matrix

Endoplasmic reticulum

Golgi apparatus

Inner mitochondrial membrane

Correct answer:

Cytoplasm

Explanation:

Glycolysis is an anaerobic process that occurs in the cytosol or the cytoplasm of the cell. This process does not require any organelles to take place. The mitochondria is where the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain occur.

Example Question #24 : Understanding Glycolysis

Which of the following processes requires oxygen (aerobic)?

Possible Answers:

Glycolysis only

Krebs cycle and electron transport chain

Krebs cycle and glycolysis

Pyruvate dehydrogenation

Electron transport chain and glycolysis

Correct answer:

Krebs cycle and electron transport chain

Explanation:

The Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain are both aerobic processes, meaning that they do require oxygen to require. Glycolysis, on the other hand, is an anaerobic process and does not need oxygen to proceed.

Example Question #27 : Understanding Glycolysis

Which of the following items is an oxidizing agent in the process of fermentation?

Possible Answers:

Lactic acid

Ethanol

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The oxidizing agent is the item that gets reduced, meaning it gains electrons. The only item here that gains electrons during the process of fermentation is .  becomes reduced to  by gaining electrons. Recall OIL RIG - oxidation is loss of electrons and reduction is gain of electrons.

Lactic acid, ethanol,  and  are not oxidizing agents in fermentation.

Example Question #25 : Understanding Glycolysis

During glycolysis, glucose undergoes a(n) __________ process to form pyruvate and __________.

Possible Answers:

catabolic . . . GTP

catabolic . . . ATP

anabolic . . . ATP

catabolic . . . cAMP

anabolic . . . GTP

Correct answer:

catabolic . . . ATP

Explanation:

Glycolysis is a catabolic process that produces ATP. A catabolic process degrades molecules, releasing energy, whereas an anabolic process requires energy to synthesize larger biomolecules. It takes energy to create a bond, but when a bond is broken, energy is released. ATP, not GTP, is produced from glycolysis; however, GTP is produced during the citric acid cycle. Cyclic AMP is an intracellular secondary messenger involved in signal transduction.

Example Question #26 : Understanding Glycolysis

Where does glycolysis take place?

Possible Answers:

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Rough endoplasmic retculum

Inner mitochondrial membrane

Cytosol

Mitochondrial matrix

Correct answer:

Cytosol

Explanation:

Glycolysis is the first step of cellular respiration where glucose is broken down down into pyruvate. It occurs in the cytosol. In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is exported to the mitochondria where it is further oxidized. In the absence of oxygen, pyruvate is converted into ethyl alcohol or lactic acid (fermentation) in the cytoplasm.

Example Question #21 : Cellular Respiration

In glycolysis, what three-carbon compound is produced?

Possible Answers:

Acetyl-CoA

Pyruvic acid

Ribose

Glucose

Correct answer:

Pyruvic acid

Explanation:

Pyruvic acid is the three-carbon compound produced in glycolysis, the first stage in cellular respiration. Acetyl-CoA is a two-carbon molecule that is the result of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex that follows glycolysis. Glucose is broken down in respiration, and ribose is a five-carbon sugar in RNA.

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