Glycolysis Adventure - Complete Game (Stages 1-10)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
๐ฏ Score
0
โญ High Score
0
๐ฅ Streak
0
0
ATP Produced
0
NADH Produced
2
ATP Invested
Stage 1: Glucose Activation ๐
The First Investment - Adding a Phosphate Group
Glucose (CโHโโOโ)
C
C
C
C
C
O
O
O
O
O
O
Starting molecule Free glucose in cell
๐
Hexokinase
Glucose-6-Phosphate
C
C
C
C
C
O
O
O
O
O
O
P
Activated molecule Trapped in cell โก
๐ฐ Energy Investment: Uses 1 ATP โ ADP + Pi
๐ฎ GAME ANALOGY
Theme park ticket activation! You pay $1 (ATP) to stamp your ticket (phosphate) so you can't lose it outside the park. Now you're trapped inside and ready for rides!
Same furniture, but you rearrange to make space for dancing. The carbonyl group moves from C1 to C2 - crucial for the upcoming split!
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 2
Q1: Why is isomerization necessary?
Q2: What does "isomerization" mean?
Q3: Difference between G6P and F6P?
๐ Stage 2 Complete! Score: 0/60
Stage 3: The Power Boost โก
Second ATP Investment - The Commitment Step!
Fructose-6-Phosphate
C2
C3
C4
C5
C=O
O
O
O
P
ONE phosphate At carbon #6
โก
Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)
COMMITMENT ENZYME
Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate
C2
C3
C4
C5
C=O
O
O
O
P
P
TWO phosphates! At #1 AND #6
๐ฐ Energy Investment - Second Payment
ATPโกโADP + Pi
Total invested: 2 ATP
๐ฏ What is a "Commitment Step"?
โ ๏ธ Irreversible - Cannot go backward
โ ๏ธ Rate-limiting - Most controlled step
โ ๏ธ Point of no return - Glycolysis MUST finish
๐ฎ FINAL BOSS UPGRADE!
You're about to face the boss! You spend gold (2nd ATP) to activate "Mega Weapon". PFK-1 is the shopkeeper who controls this upgrade. No refund = you're committed to the fight!
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 3
Q1: Why is this the "Commitment Step"?
Q2: What makes PFK-1 special?
Q3: If PFK-1 was blocked?
๐ Stage 3 Complete! Score: 0/90
Stage 4: The Great Split ๐ฅ
From 6-Carbon to Two 3-Carbon Molecules!
Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate
C2
C3
P
C4
C=O
O
O
C5
P
C6
6 CARBONS Ready to cleave!
โ๏ธ
Aldolase
"The Splitter"
Glyceraldehyde-3-P (G3P)
P
C1
C2
C3
O
O
O
3-Carbon Will become G3P
Dihydroxyacetone-P (DHAP)
P
C4
C5
C6
O
O
O
3-Carbon Will convert to G3P
โก Energy Status: No gain/loss
Just breaking in half - like splitting a candy bar!
๐ซ SPLITTING A CANDY BAR!
You have a 6-piece candy bar (F1,6BP). You break it exactly in half โ two 3-piece halves (G3P & DHAP). Same total pieces, just separated!
๐ฏ Key Points:
โ C-C bond broken between C3 and C4
โ Creates TWO 3-carbon molecules
โ DHAP must convert to G3P (next step)
โ No energy change - just cleavage
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 4
Q1: What happens in the aldolase reaction?
Q2: Where is the bond broken?
Q3: Energy outcome of this step?
๐ Stage 4 Complete! Score: 0/120
Stage 5: Twin Conversion ๐โโก
DHAP โ G3P: Getting Two for the Price of One!
Dihydroxyacetone-P (DHAP)
P
C=O
CHOH
CHโOH
O
O
O
DHAP Ketone structure
๐
Triose Phosphate Isomerase
"The Converter"
Glyceraldehyde-3-P (G3P)
P
CHO
HC-OH
CHโOH
O
O
O
G3P Aldehyde structure
โก Energy Status: Near equilibrium
Very fast reaction - both DHAP and G3P are present
๐ฏ CRITICAL INSIGHT
Now we have TWO G3P molecules! Even though glycolysis splits F1,6BP into one G3P and one DHAP,
DHAP quickly converts to G3P. So effectively, we have TWO identical 3-carbon molecules
moving forward. This means everything from now on happens TWICE per glucose!
๐ฏ TWO FOR ONE DEAL!
You split a candy bar and get one milk chocolate half (G3P) and one dark chocolate half (DHAP).
But you only like milk chocolate! So you trade the dark piece with a friend who converts it to milk chocolate.
Now you have two identical pieces!
๐ฏ Key Points:
โ DHAP and G3P are isomers
โ DHAP converts to G3P (not much G3P โ DHAP)
โ Reaction is fast and reversible
โ Result: Two G3P molecules per glucose!
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 5
Q1: What is the outcome of this step?
Q2: Why is this conversion important?
Q3: How many G3P molecules per glucose?
๐ Stage 5 Complete! Final Score: 0/150
๐ You've Completed Stages 1-5!
0
Points Earned
150
Max Points
0%
Accuracy
๐ฏ What You've Achieved:
โ Stage 1: Activated glucose with hexokinase (1 ATP spent)
โ Stage 2: Rearranged to fructose-6-phosphate via isomerization
โ Stage 3: Committed with PFK-1 (2nd ATP invested = 2 total)
โ Stage 4: Split the 6-carbon molecule into two 3-carbon pieces
โ Phosphate added: Creates high-energy acyl phosphate bond
โ NADโบ reduced: To NADH + Hโบ (electron carrier for later!)
๐ CHARGING A BATTERY!
You're cracking open a glow stick (G3P). The chemical reaction releases light energy (NADH) and creates a high-energy intermediate (1,3-BPG)
that you'll use later. The NADH is like storing that energy in a rechargeable battery for the cell!
๐ฏ Key Points:
โ Inorganic phosphate (Pi) added - NOT from ATP!
โ Creates high-energy acyl phosphate bond
โ Produces NADH + Hโบ (energy carrier)
โ This happens TWICE per glucose (2 G3P molecules)
โ High-energy phosphate bond transfers directly to ADP
โ Makes ATP without oxygen (anaerobic!)
โ Happens TWICE per glucose = 2 ATP total
โ Recoups the 2 ATP invested earlier!
๐ฆ CASHING A CHECK!
You have a high-energy cashier's check (1,3-BPG). You go to the bank (phosphoglycerate kinase) and transfer that energy into cash (ATP).
The check becomes regular paper (3-PG) after you cash it. Since you had two checks, you get 2 cash payments!
๐ฏ Key Points:
โ Substrate-level phosphorylation: Direct phosphate transfer
โ No oxygen needed - can happen anaerobically
โ Each G3P โ 1 ATP, so 2 ATP per glucose
โ This breaks even with the 2 ATP invested
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 7
Q1: What is substrate-level phosphorylation?
Q2: How many ATP from this step per glucose?
Q3: Why is this called "payday"?
๐ Stage 7 Complete! ATP: 2 | NADH: 2
Stage 8: Phosphate Shuffle ๐ฒ
3-PG โ 2-PG: Preparing for the Final Payoff!
3-Phosphoglycerate
P
C=O
HC-OH
CHโOH
O
O
O
O
Phosphate on C3 (end of molecule)
๐
Phosphoglycerate Mutase
"The Shuffler"
2-Phosphoglycerate
C=O
HC-OH
CHโOH
P
O
O
O
O
Phosphate moved to C2 (middle position)
โก Energy Status: No net gain/loss
Very fast reaction - both DHAP and G3P are present
๐ง ADJUSTING THE ENGINE!
You're fine-tuning an engine before the final race. You move a spark plug from the back (C3) to the center (C2)
to get better ignition. Same parts, better position for maximum power output later!
๐ฏ Key Points:
โ Rearrangement only: Phosphate moves from C3 to C2
โ Mutase enzyme: Moves functional groups within molecule
โ Prepares molecule for dehydration (next step)
โ Near equilibrium - very fast reaction
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 8
Q1: What happens in this step?
Q2: Why is this shuffle necessary?
Q3: Energy change?
๐ Stage 8 Complete! ATP: 2 | NADH: 2
Stage 9: Power Concentration ๐งโโก
2-PG โ Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP): Removing Water to Store Energy!
2-Phosphoglycerate
C=O
HC-OH
CHโOH
P
O
O
O
O
Low energy Phosphate-ester bond
๐ง
Enolase
"The Dehydrator"
Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)
C=O
C=C
CHโ
P
O
O
O
VERY HIGH ENERGY! Enol phosphate bond
โก Energy Status: MASSIVE ENERGY GAIN
Removing water concentrates energy into the phosphate bond, making it the highest energy bond in glycolysis!
๐ง WATER REMOVED (DEHYDRATION)
โ 2-PG loses an -OH group and an -H atom = HโO removed
โ Creates enol phosphate bond - extremely unstable/high-energy
โ This is the most energetic phosphate bond in the pathway
โ Perfect for making ATP in the final step!
๐ฅ CONCENTRATING FUEL!
You have dilute juice (2-PG) and you remove water to make super-concentrated syrup (PEP). The same amount of "stuff" is there,
but now it's packed with much more potential energy! This concentrated fuel will power the final big ATP generation.
๐ฏ Key Points:
โ Dehydration: Removes HโO from molecule
โ Creates enol phosphate - highest energy bond
โ Catalyzed by enolase (needs Mgยฒโบ)
โ Irreversible under cellular conditions
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 9
Q1: What makes PEP special?
Q2: What is removed in this step?
Q3: Why is dehydration important here?
๐ Stage 9 Complete! ATP: 2 | NADH: 2
Stage 10: Grand Finale ๐
PEP โ Pyruvate: The Big ATP Payoff!
Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)
C=O
C=C
CHโ
P
O
O
O
HIGHEST ENERGY! Ready to transfer
๐ฅ
Pyruvate Kinase
"The Jackpot"
Pyruvate
C=O
C=O
CHโ
O
O
O
O
FINAL PRODUCT! 3-Carbon pyruvate
+2
ATP Generated
โ
ADP + Pi
๐ SUBSTRATE-LEVEL PHOSPHORYLATION #2!
The highest energy phosphate bond in glycolysis transfers to ADP. This is the most exergonic reaction in the pathway -
so much energy released that it's irreversible! Since we have 2 PEP molecules, we get 2 ATP here โ Total: 4 ATP per glucose!
๐ฐ JACKPOT WIN!
You have two lottery tickets with the highest possible prize (PEP). You go to the lottery office (pyruvate kinase) and cash them in.
Each ticket gives you $2 (ATP). Since you have two tickets, you win $4 total! The office keeps the used tickets (pyruvate).
๐ฏ Key Points:
โ Irreversible reaction - huge energy release
โ Uses the highest-energy phosphate bond in glycolysis
โ Produces 2 ATP per glucose (1 per PEP)
โ Total ATP: 4 produced - 2 invested = NET GAIN of 2 ATP!
๐ Challenge Questions - Stage 10
Q1: Why is this reaction irreversible?
Q2: Net ATP gain per glucose?
Q3: What happens to the phosphate from PEP?
๐ Final Stage Complete! ATP: 4 | NADH: 2
๐ Glycolysis Complete - All 10 Stages!
4
ATP Produced
-2
ATP Invested
+2
Net ATP
2
NADH Produced
0
Total Score
๐ฏ What You've Achieved:
โ Stages 1-3 (Investment): Spent 2 ATP to activate and trap glucose
โ Stage 4: Split 6C molecule โ two 3C molecules