Question

What is the advantage of activating pyruvate kinase with fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate?

Short answer

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate acts as a feed-forward for the pyruvate kinase.

Step-by-step solution

Glycolysis

One molecule of glucose is transformed into two molecules of pyruvate during the process known as glycolysis. Glycolysis is a series of ten enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Overall, 2 ATP is created; throughout this process, 2 NAD+ is converted to 2 NADH.

Advantage of activating pyruvate kinase with Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate

The result of the third glycolysis step is fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate, which activates pyruvate kinase. FBP is a feed-forward stimulant in a glycolytic pathway intermediate because it increases allosteric activation and pyruvate kinase activity as its concentration increases.

Hence, the final six stages of glycolysis are pushed forward towards completion by this regulatory mechanism.