Difference b/w Glycolysis & Kerb’s Cycle
Glycolysis
1. It occurs inside the
cytoplasm.
2. It is a straight or linear
pathway.
3. Glycolysis is the first step of
respiration in which glucose is
broken down to the level of
pyruvate.
4. The process is common to
both aerobic and anaerobic
modes of respiration.
5. It degrades a molecule of
glucose into two molecules of
an organic substance, pyruvate.
6. Glycolysis consumes 2 ATP
molecules for the initial
phosphorylation of substrate
molecule.
7. In glycolysis, one glucose
molecule liberates 4 ATP
molecules through substrate
level phosphorylation.
8. Net gain is two molecules of
NADH and two molecules of ATP
for every molecule of glucose
broken down.
9. The net gain of energy is
equal to 8 ATP.
10. No carbon dioxide is evolved
in glycolysis.
Kerb’s Cycle
1. Krebs cycle operates inside
mitochondria.
2. It is a cyclic pathway.
3. Krebs cycle is the second step
in respiration where an active
acetyl group is broken down
completely.
4. It occurs only in aerobic
respiration.
5. It degrades pyruvate
completely into inorganic
substances (CO2 + H2O).
6. It does not consume ATP.
7. In Krebs cycle, two acetyl
residues liberate two ATP or
GTP molecules through
substrate level phosphorylation.
8. Krebs cycle produces six
molecules of NADH, and 2
molecules of FADH2 for every
two molecules of Acetyl Co A
oxidized by it. Two molecules of
NADH are liberated during
conversion of two pyruvates to
Acetyl CoA.
9. The net gain of energy is
equal to 24 molecules of ATP.
Six molecules of ATP can be
produced from 2NADH2 formed
during dehydrogenation of two
pyruvates.
10. Carbon dioxide is evolved in
Krebs cycle. (1)
 Difference b/w Glycolysis & HMP shunt
Glycolysis HMP shunt
1. Mechanism: Breakdown of Breakdown of
glucose up to glucose but it yields
pyruvate (in aerobic different metabolic
glycolysis) or lactate products e.g.
(in anaerobic pentose sugar
conditions)
2. Starting Glucose Glucose-6-Phosphate
compound:
3. Sub types: Aerobic or anaerobic No sub type
4. ATP production 2 used and 4 No ATP produced
and utilization: produced
5. NADH2 and 2 NADH2 2 NADPH2
NADPH2 productions:
6. Location in body: Everywhere Lactating mammary
glands, RBC’s,
adipose tissue,
thyroid, liver,
adrenal cortex,
testes and ovaries
etc.
7. CO2 Production: No Yes
8.End Product: Pyruvate or Lactate 2 molecules of
glucose 6 phosphate
and 3 molecules of 3
phosphoglyceraldeh
yde.
9. No of Glucose 1 3
molecules required:
10. Pentose No Yes (3)

production:
1. http://www.biologydiscussion.com/difference/difference-between-
glycolysis-and-krebs-cycle/44621
2. https://pediaa.com/difference-between-glycolysis-and-
gluconeogenesis/
3. https://allmedicalstuff.com/differences-glycolysis-hmp-shunt/