Good Girls Finish First; Don't Be Paranoid, Pretty Pyramids Prevail
Glycolysis — All 10 Steps & Enzymes
NEETNEET-PGAIIMSClass 12
Items to Memorize
- Glucose
- Glucose-6-Phosphate
- Fructose-6-Phosphate
- Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate
- DHAP + G3P (Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate)
- 1,3-Bisphosphoglycerate
- 3-Phosphoglycerate
- 2-Phosphoglycerate
- Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)
- Pyruvate
Mnemonic Tricks
How It Maps
| Cue | Maps To |
|---|---|
| Good | Glucose |
| Girls | Glucose-6-Phosphate |
| Finish | Fructose-6-Phosphate |
| First | Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphate |
| Don't | DHAP |
| Be | 1,3-BPG |
| Paranoid | 3-Phosphoglycerate |
| Pretty | 2-Phosphoglycerate |
| Pyramids | PEP |
| Prevail | Pyruvate |
Why It Sticks
Two mini-sentences — the first covers the energy investment phase (steps 1-4 consume ATP), the second covers the payoff phase (steps 5-10 produce ATP). The semicolon marks where the molecule splits into two 3-carbon pieces.
GLUCOSE walked into a bar and got PHOSPHORYLATED (G6P). The bartender said 'Let me FRUCTOSE that up' (F6P), then DOUBLE-STAMPED her hand (F1,6BP). She was so stunned she SPLIT in half — one DHAP, one G3P twin. The twins ran through a BISPHOS toll booth (1,3BPG), down THREE stairs (3PG), across TWO bridges (2PG), jumped onto a PEP rally float, and landed as PYRUVATE — ready for the Krebs cycle afterparty.
Why It Sticks
The bar-to-afterparty journey mirrors the cell's energy investment → payoff arc. The split at step 5 is literal — one molecule becomes two.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many steps are in glycolysis?
Glycolysis has 10 steps, catalyzed by 10 different enzymes. It converts one molecule of glucose (6C) into two molecules of pyruvate (3C each), producing a net gain of 2 ATP and 2 NADH.
What is the glycolysis mnemonic?
'Good Girls Finish First; Don't Be Paranoid, Pretty Pyramids Prevail' — each word maps to one of the 10 intermediates from Glucose to Pyruvate.
Where does glycolysis occur in the cell?
Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm (cytosol) of all cells. It doesn't require oxygen — it's the common pathway for both aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
What are the irreversible steps of glycolysis?
Three steps are irreversible (regulated): Step 1 (Hexokinase: Glucose → G6P), Step 3 (PFK-1: F6P → F1,6BP — the committed step), and Step 10 (Pyruvate kinase: PEP → Pyruvate).
What is the net ATP gain from glycolysis?
Net gain = 2 ATP per glucose. Investment phase uses 2 ATP (steps 1 and 3). Payoff phase produces 4 ATP (2 each at steps 7 and 10, doubled because there are two 3C molecules). Net: 4 - 2 = 2 ATP.