1) Glycolysis is a series of 10 enzyme-catalyzed reactions that converts glucose into pyruvate, generating ATP in the process.
2) The reactions are divided into two phases: the preparatory phase requires ATP investment to phosphorylate glucose, and the payoff phase generates a net production of ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation.
3) Overall, glycolysis partially oxidizes one glucose molecule to produce two pyruvate molecules, along with a net gain of two ATP per glucose molecule.