The primary product of glycolysis is pyruvate. During the glycolysis process, one molecule of glucose, which is a six-carbon sugar, is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate, a three-carbon compound.
Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and consists of ten enzymatic reactions. In addition to producing pyruvate, glycolysis generates a small amount of energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Specifically, two molecules of ATP are consumed in the early stages, but four molecules are produced in the latter stages, resulting in a net gain of two ATP molecules per glucose molecule. NADH, which is produced during glycolysis, is important for the subsequent steps of cellular respiration, where it will be used to generate more ATP in the electron transport chain.
In summary, glycolysis transforms glucose into pyruvate while producing a small yield of energy and key electron carriers, setting the stage for further energy extraction in cellular processes.