Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm and begins with glucose being phosphorylated to hexose bisphosphate. This is then split into two triose phosphate molecules, which are further oxidized to produce pyruvate. Pyruvate is actively transported into the mitochondria during aerobic respiration in animals. During oxidative phosphorylation, a proton gradient is generated across the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is used by ATP synthase to produce ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.