Regulation of Glycolysis

Abstract

A study of regulation of glycolysis is directly related to the mechanisms coupling glycolytic reactions to other cellular processes to which glycolysis donates phosphoryl groups, reducing equivalents and carbon fragments for further oxidation, reduction, and biosynthesis. Any activation of the latter processes will lead to a corresponding and well-balanced activation of glycolysis. The problem of regulation is therefore related to the mechanisms of coupling: what are the coupling components and how do they interact, what are their stoichiometric relationships, what are the enzymic mechanisms involved, and to what extent do they have controlling functions? Over the years of Warburg’s century, the investigations of metabolic balance and stoichiometries made good use of the various effects which had been observed whenever metabolic states of glycolysis were influenced by oxygen, light, or multiple activators or inhibitors of cellular metabolism. These studies led to our current knowledge of the balance between processes of energy generation and energy utilization.

Article Note

In Memoriam Eraldo Antonini