The question states that the cell undergoes aerobic respiration. This means that the products from anaerobic respiration (glycolysis) will go through Krebs cycle and electron transport chain (aerobic respiration) to generate ATP. Lactate dehydrogenase is an enzyme important for converting the pyruvate molecules (from glycolysis) to lactate and oxidizing NADH. This reaction occurs in anaerobic fermentation when there is tissue hypoxia (decrease in oxygen).

If this inhibitor was placed in a cell that is deprived of oxygen, then there would be a buildup of pyruvate and NADH; however, since the inhibitor is added to cells undergoing aerobic respiration there will be no buildup. The pyruvate and NADH will undergo aerobic respiration and generate ATP. Note that red blood cells (RBCs) are unique in that they only use anaerobic respiration for ATP; therefore, adding lactate dehydrogenase inhibitor to RBCs will lead to a buildup of pyruvate and NADH.

The first step of glycolysis consumes a molecule of ATP, removing one of the phosphate groups to make ADP. This phosphate group is added to glucose to make Glucose-6-phosphate, therefore glucose is phosphorylated.

Anaerobic metabolism, such as glycolysis and fermentation, occur in the cellular cytoplasm. The products of glycolysis are transported to the mitochondria where they undergo Krebs cycle (in mitochondrial matrix) and oxidative phosphorylation (on the inner mitochondrial membrane). Both Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation require oxygen and are, therefore, called aerobic metabolism.

Glycolysis is an anaerobic process that produces 2 net ATP, 2 pyruvate molecules, and 2 NADH. Pyruvate is a three-carbon molecule. Recall that glucose is a six-carbon molecule; therefore, the six-carbon glucose is broken down to two three-carbon pyruvate molecules. This means that all the carbons in glucose are transferred to the pyruvate molecules. ATP is produced and consumed in glycolysis. There is a total of four ATP molecules synthesized in the glycolysis; however, glycolysis consume two ATP molecules so you get a net of 2 ATP molecules. Finally, glycolysis involves the reduction two molecules to yield two NADH molecules (not FAD).

The initial energy investment required for conversion of one glucose to pyruvate is 2 ATP in the preparatory phase. In the pay-off phase, substrate level phosphorylation produces a total of 4 ATP per initial glucose.

Glycolysis is the first step in producing ATP. Glycolysis is an anaerobic process that occurs in every cell. Certain cells, such as red blood cells, only rely on glycolysis for energy. In most of the other cells, glycolysis produces ATP and few intermediates that will be used in subsequent steps to generate more ATP; therefore, glycolysis occurs in every cell.

The major input for glycolysis is glucose. Glycogen, a storage form of glucose, needs to be broken down into individual glucose units before undergoing glycolysis. The net products of glycolysis are 2 NADH, 2 pyruvate molecules, and 2 ATP. There is a total of 4 ATP produced in glycolysis; however, two of the ATP molecules are consumed, leaving behind only 2 net ATP.

During glycolysis, a total of two molecules of NAD+ are reduced in order to form two NADH molecules. These NAD+ molecules need to be regenerated in order for more glycolytic reactions to take place; otherwise, the process would come to a halt. Fermentation takes care of this problem in anaerobic environments by oxidizing excess NADH (since it is no longer utilized in the electron transport chain) into NAD+, which is then returned to the cytosol where it can be used again in glycolysis.

Both phases of glycolysis occur in the cytosol of the cell. The products of glycolysis are moved for further processing into the mitochondria, but the conversion of glucose to pyruvate is a cytosolic reaction.

Glycolysis has three irreversible enzymatic steps that help the substrate intermediates proceed in one direction through the glycolytic pathway: the enzymes are hexokinase, phosphofructokinase 1, and pyruvate kinase. Of these three enzymes, the most important enzyme that controls the rate of glycolysis is phosphofructokinase 1, or PFK-1. Pyruvate carboxylase is not used in glycolysis, but in gluconeogenesis.

Starch is a complex carbohydrate that is digested by enzymes in the small intestine. These digestive enzymes, called glucosidases, are released by exocrine glands in humans and are involved in breakdown of complex carbohydrates to their individual monomers (glucose). Recall that energy production in cell begins with glycolysis, where a molecule of glucose is metabolized to produce intermediates for subsequent metabolic steps. Cells can’t use starch or glycogen during glycolysis; therefore, the student must add glucosidase to break down starch into individual glucose molecules.

Energy can be produced in anaerobic conditions (like in glycolysis). It might not have a high yield of energy such as aerobic respiration, but the cells can still produce energy when they are oxygen deficient. As mentioned, glycogen is a complex carbohydrate; therefore, adding it without glucosidase will not help facilitate energy production.