"Glycolysis"

I had to write a poem using technical jargon for Creative Writing in college, and since I was a Biology major at the time, I wrote about Glycolysis!  I know you are all excited about this... not.


"In eukaryotic cytosol
Sugars get broken down
From glucose to pyruvate--
There's activity all around.

This catabolic metabolism
Needs two ATP's to start.
And as the process carries on,
It pulls the sugars apart.

Side reactions bring energy
To this anaerobic chain;
For each time through the cycle
There's a two ATP net gain.

Kinase adds a phosphate
From the intermediate before.
Dehydrogenase breaks things down
Using the NAD+ in store.

The enzyme hexokinase
Is the first one to play its part;
If there is not enough present,
Glycolysis will not start.

Phosphofructokinase
And hexokinase, too,
And also pyruvate kinase
Are control points it must get through.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate
Uses aldolase to make
Not one, but two intermediates:
This is not a mistake.

The DHAP must transfer into
The other product here,
Otherwise the cycle stops,
And the end is no longer near.

Phosphoenolpyruvate
Is the last thing to be changed,
Pyruvate kinase the last enzyme,
As the molecule is rearranged."
-KK, 3/17/04