Glucose to acetyl-CoA: ten enzymes in the cytosol, then the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in the mitochondrial matrix
Route: Glucose → Glucose 6-phosphate → Fructose 6-phosphate → Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate → Dihydroxyacetone phosphate + Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate → 1,3-Bisphosphoglycerate → 3-Phosphoglycerate → 2-Phosphoglycerate → Phosphoenolpyruvate → Pyruvate → Acetyl-CoA
Neutral forms, drawn in the same pose from one step to the next so you can see what changes: a phosphate added, a ring opened, a carbon split off. Cofactors are shown by name. Everything below GAP happens twice per glucose, once for each triose. The last step is the link reaction: the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex removes the carboxyl group of pyruvate as CO₂ and attaches the remaining two carbons to coenzyme A. In animals this step cannot run backwards.
Practice this pathway All pathways
| Step | Enzyme | EC | In | Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hexokinase | 2.7.1.1 | ATP | ADP |
| 2 | Phosphoglucose isomerase | 5.3.1.9 | ||
| 3 | Phosphofructokinase-1 | 2.7.1.11 | ATP | ADP |
| 4 | Aldolase | 4.1.2.13 | ||
| 5 | GAP dehydrogenase | 1.2.1.12 | NAD⁺, Pᵢ | NADH |
| 6 | Phosphoglycerate kinase | 2.7.2.3 | ADP | ATP |
| 7 | Phosphoglycerate mutase | 5.4.2.11 | ||
| 8 | Enolase | 4.2.1.11 | H₂O | |
| 9 | Pyruvate kinase | 2.7.1.40 | ADP | ATP |
| 10 | Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex | 1.2.1.104 | NAD⁺, CoA-SH | NADH, CO₂ |
Enzyme names and EC numbers are those used on the interactive board. Checked against sources: see the claim table in the repository (tools/pathway_data/checks).