Which pathway is responsible for anaerobic energy generation in the form of ATP?

The Embden-Meyerhof pathway, which is also known as glycolysis, is the primary pathway for anaerobic energy generation in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This metabolic pathway occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and involves the breakdown of glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP and NADH in the process. Glycolysis does not require oxygen, which makes it an anaerobic process.

During glycolysis, glucose is converted into two molecules of pyruvate through a series of enzymatic reactions. In the absence of oxygen, pyruvate can be further metabolized to lactate in animals or fermented to ethanol and carbon dioxide in yeast, allowing for continued ATP production. The key aspect of the Embden-Meyerhof pathway is its ability to provide energy rapidly without the need for oxygen, which is vital during periods of intense exercise or in anaerobic environments.

The other pathways mentioned—such as the hexose monophosphate pathway, which primarily generates NADPH and ribose-5-phosphate for anabolic processes, and the Rapoport-Luebering pathway, which is involved in the production of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (2,3-BPG) for regulating hem