During glycolysis, the enzyme aldolase cleaves fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into two three-carbon molecules. What is the significance of this step for the rest of the pathway?

Core Concept

Aldolase cleaves fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P). DHAP is rapidly converted to G3P by triose phosphate isomerase, yielding two G3P molecules. Each G3P then passes through the payoff phase, effectively doubling the ATP and NADH yield per original glucose molecule.