PyruvateKitchen
10-Course Escape Room Feast
start
Mission/Instructions
You must convert 1 unit of Glucose into Pyruvate to satisfy the "Cellular Customers." The Locks: Complete the first 5 steps in the first kitchen station correctly to unlock the second kitchen station. Before you move through each step, you must read the note about the correct "Cooking Technique" (Enzyme Name) and check the "Energy Control" (Free Energy, delta G) by clicking the image of the pan or notes. Special Orders: Steps 3, 5, and 9 requires understanding of a "Detailed Prep Guide" (Mechanisms). The Head Chef: At Step 3, the PFK-1 will finalize the ingredients before letting you proceed.
Time is running out in kitchen station 1... The pathway depends on you
Complete glycolysis step-by-step to keep things working (Read the yellow note)
Check the energy control First!
Cooking Technique
"Hexo-" refers to the six-carbon sugar (glucose), and "kinase" is the systematic name for enzymes that transfer a phosphoryl group from a nucleoside triphosphate (like ATP) to an acceptor.
The molecule has been phosphorylated. It is time to rearrange the molecule to keep the recipe going.
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Check the energy control First!
Rearrange the molecule to continue glycolysis (Hover your mouse here for cooking technique):
The ingredient has been rearranged—now it’s ready for the key step that locks it into the pathway.
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Check the energy control and cooking technique!
PFK-1 is the committed step in glycolysis A committed step means once this reaction happens, the molecule must continue through the pathway click to learn more!
The head chef approved! You’ve committed to glycolysis, there is no turning back. Now the molecule must be split into two 3-carbon units to continue the pathway.
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Check the energy control!
Match each ingredient with its name! Hover here to check the cooking technique!
You are so close to be done with the first half of glycolysis😊
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Step 5
Detailed Prep Guide Click here to check the energy controls and cooking techniques first!
Intermediate 3
Intermediate 1
Product
Intermediate 2
Substrate
Recipe
You have completed the first five steps!
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Second kitchen station unlocked!
You've unlocked Station 2! Complete steps 6-10 to serve pyruvate to your customers!
Arrange the steps of the recipe. Drag each action to the correct step.
It's time to cook. Click here to read more into the recipe! You can only add the correct ingredients (reactants and enzyme) in the net reaction. If you make a mistake… everything will burn.
check energy controls here!
🔥 Use proper stir fry techniques! Kinases catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups. In this case, BPG transfers a phosphate group to ADP to form phosphoglycerate and ATP. This is a “reverse kinase” that forms ATP.
The food is burning!
It's time to cook. Click here to read more into the recipe! You can only add the correct ingredients (reactants and enzyme) in the Step 9. If you make a mistake… everything will burn.
check energy controls here!
🔥 Use proper stir fry techniques! Kinase transfers a phosphate group to a molecule. Phosphatase removes a phosphate group. Mutase shifts a functional group (e.g., phosphate) within the same molecule.
Glycolysis Overview
Got it!
You have solved the recipe better thanany chef, good job! Your cellular customers rated the pyruvate dish 5 stars!
Cooking Technique
Phosphofructokinase-1: "Phosphofructo-" specifies the substrate (F6P), and "kinase" indicates the transfer of a phosphate from ATP to the C-1 position.
Energy Change ΔG
ΔG°’ is roughly -15 kJ/mol. ΔG is more negative. Like Step 1, this is a highly exergonic, irreversible reaction maintained far from equilibrium by high ATP levels.
Free Energy ΔG
The standard free energy change (ΔG°’) is approximately -15 kJ/mol, while the actual free energy change (ΔG) in the cell is even more negative. They differ because ΔG depends on the actual intracellular concentrations of reactants and products ([ATP]/[ADP] ratio and [G6P]), which are kept far from equilibrium to drive the reaction forward.
Step 6: Oxidation of G3P
🔥 Use proper stir fry techniques!
G3P Dehydrogenase (G3PDH) signifies a redox reaction, where in this case hydride ions are transferred to an electron carrier (NAD⁺). G3P is the substrate.
Energy Controls
ΔG°’ is slightly positive, while ΔGcell is near 0 kJ/mol. This step couples an unfavorable phosphorylation to a favorable oxidation (aldehyde to carboxylic acid).
PFK-1 is the committed step...
it catalyzes an irreversible and highly regulated reaction that converts fructose-6-phosphate into fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. After this step, the molecule is committed to continue through glycolysis and cannot be diverted into other pathways.
Activation of the pathway
The pathway is activated when cellular energy is low. High AMP levels activate PFK-1, increasing glycolysis to produce ATP, while high ATP and citrate levels inhibit PFK-1 when energy is abundant.
Free Energy of Step 4
ΔG°’ and ΔG are both near 0 kJ/mol. The reaction proceeds because the products are rapidly used by subsequent steps, keeping product concentration very low.
Step 8:
Phosphoglycerate mutase
Phosphoglycerate mutase isomerizes 3-phosphoglycerate to 2-phosphoglycerate via a bisphosphate intermediate. The active site of the enzyme contains a phosphohistidine residue.
- There is no net change in energetic bonds, and the types and numbers of bonds are identical on both sides; therefore, ΔGo' = 0 kJ/mol.
- In the cell, the reaction operates near equilibrium and does not drive glycolysis forward. Because reactant and product concentrations are similar, there is minimal driving force, so ΔGcell ≈ 0 kJ/mol.
Energy Control
ΔG°’ is around -15 kJ/mol, while ΔG is near 0 kJ/mol. This is because 1,3-BPG (a reactant) is kept at low concentrations, while cells keep ATP (a product) at high concentrations, compared to ADP.
Recipe
Hey! Dinner depends on you 🍳 To make glycolysis work, you must follow the instructions Choose carefully… or the pathway fails.
Add phosphate
Rearrange molecule
Commit to pathway
Split molecule
Convert to G3P
Free Energy ΔG of Step 2
The ΔG°’ is around 0 kJ/mol, and ΔG is slightly more negative, but also close to 0 kJ/mol. This reaction is near equilibrium in the cell; though the product F6P is consumed at a high rate in the next step, shifting ΔG towards the products in cellular conditions.
Cooking Technique
Triose Phosphate Isomerase: "Triose phosphate" refers to the three-carbon phosphorylated sugars, and "isomerase" denotes the conversion between the ketose (DHAP) and aldose (G3P). Because DHAP and GAP are isomers, they have the same amount of energy. As ΔG°’ and ΔG are both near zero, the reaction is a reversible and near-equilibrium reaction.
Energy Controls
Step 9: Dehydrolysis
🔥 You are close to "cook" Glycolysis!
The enzyme in Step 9 of glycolysis is enolase, which catalyzes the dehydration of 2-phosphoglycerate to form phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). It removes a molecule of water, creating a high-energy enol phosphate bond in PEP.
Energy Controls
The standard free energy change is close to 0 because the reaction involves a simple rearrangement with minimal net change in bond energies. In the cell, reactant and product concentrations are similar, so there is little driving force, making ΔGcell ≈ 0 kJ/mol.
Step 10: Pyruvate kinase
Pyruvate kinase transfers a phosphate group from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to ADP, forming ATP and pyruvate. This is a substrate-level phosphorylation and the final energy-yielding step of glycolysis. ΔGo' = -30 kJ/mol. The reaction has a large negative ΔGo' because breaking the high-energy enol phosphate bond in PEP and forming stable pyruvate (keto form) releases substantial energy. In the cell, this step remains far from equilibrium, so ΔGcell ≈ ΔGo' = -30 kJ/mol.
HEB: 2 1 0 2
PyruvateKitchen
Emily Wang
Created on April 5, 2026
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Transcript
PyruvateKitchen
10-Course Escape Room Feast
start
Mission/Instructions
You must convert 1 unit of Glucose into Pyruvate to satisfy the "Cellular Customers." The Locks: Complete the first 5 steps in the first kitchen station correctly to unlock the second kitchen station. Before you move through each step, you must read the note about the correct "Cooking Technique" (Enzyme Name) and check the "Energy Control" (Free Energy, delta G) by clicking the image of the pan or notes. Special Orders: Steps 3, 5, and 9 requires understanding of a "Detailed Prep Guide" (Mechanisms). The Head Chef: At Step 3, the PFK-1 will finalize the ingredients before letting you proceed.
Time is running out in kitchen station 1... The pathway depends on you
Complete glycolysis step-by-step to keep things working (Read the yellow note)
Check the energy control First!
Cooking Technique
"Hexo-" refers to the six-carbon sugar (glucose), and "kinase" is the systematic name for enzymes that transfer a phosphoryl group from a nucleoside triphosphate (like ATP) to an acceptor.
The molecule has been phosphorylated. It is time to rearrange the molecule to keep the recipe going.
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Check the energy control First!
Rearrange the molecule to continue glycolysis (Hover your mouse here for cooking technique):
The ingredient has been rearranged—now it’s ready for the key step that locks it into the pathway.
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Check the energy control and cooking technique!
PFK-1 is the committed step in glycolysis A committed step means once this reaction happens, the molecule must continue through the pathway click to learn more!
The head chef approved! You’ve committed to glycolysis, there is no turning back. Now the molecule must be split into two 3-carbon units to continue the pathway.
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Check the energy control!
Match each ingredient with its name! Hover here to check the cooking technique!
You are so close to be done with the first half of glycolysis😊
Recipe
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Step 5
Detailed Prep Guide Click here to check the energy controls and cooking techniques first!
Intermediate 3
Intermediate 1
Product
Intermediate 2
Substrate
Recipe
You have completed the first five steps!
Split molecule
Commit to pathway
Rearrange molecule
Add phosphate
Convert to G3P
Second kitchen station unlocked!
You've unlocked Station 2! Complete steps 6-10 to serve pyruvate to your customers!
Arrange the steps of the recipe. Drag each action to the correct step.
It's time to cook. Click here to read more into the recipe! You can only add the correct ingredients (reactants and enzyme) in the net reaction. If you make a mistake… everything will burn.
check energy controls here!
🔥 Use proper stir fry techniques! Kinases catalyze the transfer of phosphate groups. In this case, BPG transfers a phosphate group to ADP to form phosphoglycerate and ATP. This is a “reverse kinase” that forms ATP.
The food is burning!
It's time to cook. Click here to read more into the recipe! You can only add the correct ingredients (reactants and enzyme) in the Step 9. If you make a mistake… everything will burn.
check energy controls here!
🔥 Use proper stir fry techniques! Kinase transfers a phosphate group to a molecule. Phosphatase removes a phosphate group. Mutase shifts a functional group (e.g., phosphate) within the same molecule.
Glycolysis Overview
Got it!
You have solved the recipe better thanany chef, good job! Your cellular customers rated the pyruvate dish 5 stars!
Cooking Technique
Phosphofructokinase-1: "Phosphofructo-" specifies the substrate (F6P), and "kinase" indicates the transfer of a phosphate from ATP to the C-1 position.
Energy Change ΔG
ΔG°’ is roughly -15 kJ/mol. ΔG is more negative. Like Step 1, this is a highly exergonic, irreversible reaction maintained far from equilibrium by high ATP levels.
Free Energy ΔG
The standard free energy change (ΔG°’) is approximately -15 kJ/mol, while the actual free energy change (ΔG) in the cell is even more negative. They differ because ΔG depends on the actual intracellular concentrations of reactants and products ([ATP]/[ADP] ratio and [G6P]), which are kept far from equilibrium to drive the reaction forward.
Step 6: Oxidation of G3P
🔥 Use proper stir fry techniques!
G3P Dehydrogenase (G3PDH) signifies a redox reaction, where in this case hydride ions are transferred to an electron carrier (NAD⁺). G3P is the substrate.
Energy Controls
ΔG°’ is slightly positive, while ΔGcell is near 0 kJ/mol. This step couples an unfavorable phosphorylation to a favorable oxidation (aldehyde to carboxylic acid).
PFK-1 is the committed step...
it catalyzes an irreversible and highly regulated reaction that converts fructose-6-phosphate into fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. After this step, the molecule is committed to continue through glycolysis and cannot be diverted into other pathways.
Activation of the pathway
The pathway is activated when cellular energy is low. High AMP levels activate PFK-1, increasing glycolysis to produce ATP, while high ATP and citrate levels inhibit PFK-1 when energy is abundant.
Free Energy of Step 4
ΔG°’ and ΔG are both near 0 kJ/mol. The reaction proceeds because the products are rapidly used by subsequent steps, keeping product concentration very low.
Step 8:
Phosphoglycerate mutase
Phosphoglycerate mutase isomerizes 3-phosphoglycerate to 2-phosphoglycerate via a bisphosphate intermediate. The active site of the enzyme contains a phosphohistidine residue.
Energy Control
ΔG°’ is around -15 kJ/mol, while ΔG is near 0 kJ/mol. This is because 1,3-BPG (a reactant) is kept at low concentrations, while cells keep ATP (a product) at high concentrations, compared to ADP.
Recipe
Hey! Dinner depends on you 🍳 To make glycolysis work, you must follow the instructions Choose carefully… or the pathway fails.
Add phosphate
Rearrange molecule
Commit to pathway
Split molecule
Convert to G3P
Free Energy ΔG of Step 2
The ΔG°’ is around 0 kJ/mol, and ΔG is slightly more negative, but also close to 0 kJ/mol. This reaction is near equilibrium in the cell; though the product F6P is consumed at a high rate in the next step, shifting ΔG towards the products in cellular conditions.
Cooking Technique
Triose Phosphate Isomerase: "Triose phosphate" refers to the three-carbon phosphorylated sugars, and "isomerase" denotes the conversion between the ketose (DHAP) and aldose (G3P). Because DHAP and GAP are isomers, they have the same amount of energy. As ΔG°’ and ΔG are both near zero, the reaction is a reversible and near-equilibrium reaction.
Energy Controls
Step 9: Dehydrolysis
🔥 You are close to "cook" Glycolysis!
The enzyme in Step 9 of glycolysis is enolase, which catalyzes the dehydration of 2-phosphoglycerate to form phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). It removes a molecule of water, creating a high-energy enol phosphate bond in PEP.
Energy Controls
The standard free energy change is close to 0 because the reaction involves a simple rearrangement with minimal net change in bond energies. In the cell, reactant and product concentrations are similar, so there is little driving force, making ΔGcell ≈ 0 kJ/mol.
Step 10: Pyruvate kinase
Pyruvate kinase transfers a phosphate group from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to ADP, forming ATP and pyruvate. This is a substrate-level phosphorylation and the final energy-yielding step of glycolysis. ΔGo' = -30 kJ/mol. The reaction has a large negative ΔGo' because breaking the high-energy enol phosphate bond in PEP and forming stable pyruvate (keto form) releases substantial energy. In the cell, this step remains far from equilibrium, so ΔGcell ≈ ΔGo' = -30 kJ/mol.
HEB: 2 1 0 2