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In respiration, why does glucose have to be phosphorylated ?

I might have an idea but I want to make sure.
What I understood was that in order for the cell to accumulate enough glucose molecules, the glucose has to be in a form where it can’t leave the cell , and the phosphate ion helps in that .
Is that correct ? Is there another reason ?

Reply 1

googie3

glucose reaction has a high activation energy. So that the glucose can react that is break down in glycolysis, it is phoshphorylated to reduce its energy..... phoshphorylated glucose cannot leave the cell is also a reason.

Reply 2

Jpw1097

Original post by JacobBob

Exactly, once glucose is phosphorylated to form glucose-6-phosphate, it can no longer leave the cell. This helps to maintain the gradient which allows continued influx of glucose into the cell via diffusion.

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