Question

Galactose can enter the glycolytic cycle but it must first react with ATP to form galactose-1-phosphate. Propose a mechanism for this reaction.

Short answer

Mechanism followed as:

Step-by-step solution

Glycolytic cycle

It is also known as the embedded Meyerhof pathway. In this breakdown, glucose occurs to pyruvate with the synthesis of energy in the form of Adenosine Triphosphate and Nicotine Adenine Diphosphate, and a total of six molecules of ATP are produced in this reaction and it is occur by the catabolic pathway.

Mechanism

Conversion of galactose to galactose -1-phosphate is occur in the Leloir pathway which leads to producing glucose -1-phosphate the production is done when the phosphate group is joined and the ATP is converted to ADP by enzyme galactose kinase as shown below: