Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway

Definition

The Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway is an alternative glycolytic pathway that breaks down glucose to pyruvate through a series of enzyme-catalyzed steps. It is primarily found in some bacteria and archaea, providing a unique means of carbohydrate catabolism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The ED pathway yields one ATP, one NADH, and one NADPH per glucose molecule.
2. It is less energy-efficient than the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway, which produces two ATP molecules per glucose.
3. Key enzymes in the ED pathway include 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase and KDPG aldolase.
4. The ED pathway is often used by bacteria that lack enzymes necessary for the EMP pathway or when certain substrates are available.
5. Pseudomonas, Azotobacter, and Zymomonas are examples of microorganisms that utilize the ED pathway.

Review Questions

Related terms

Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) Pathway: A glycolytic pathway that converts glucose to pyruvate with a net gain of two ATP molecules.

Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP): A metabolic process parallel to glycolysis that generates NADPH and pentoses.

Glycolysis:

A central metabolic pathway for carbohydrate catabolism where glucose is converted into pyruvate, yielding ATP and NADH.