The process of glycolysis involves converting glucose into energy, starting with the transformation of fructose 6-phosphate into fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, utilizing ATP molecules. During pyruvate oxidation, pyruvate molecules are further processed to release energy, despite no direct ATP production.
Two pyruvate molecules remain at the end of glycolysis and are still very rich in energy that can be extracted. Although no ATP is directly produced during pyruvate oxidation, it is the next step in the process that releases the residual energy in the form of ATP