BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose to produce energy in the form of ATP. The primary trigger for glycolysis is the presence of insulin and other hormones that signal the availability of glucose in the bloodstream. Insulin, in particular, promotes the uptake of glucose into the cells and activates the enzymes involved in glycolysis.

While adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) plays a role in energy mobilization during stressful situations, its primary function is to promote the breakdown of glycogen to glucose (glycogenolysis) and to increase blood sugar levels. This can indirectly support glycolysis by increasing the availability of glucose, but adrenaline itself is more focused on providing energy swiftly through glycogenolysis and the release of glucose into the bloodstream.

Insulin directly stimulates glycolysis by enhancing the expression of key glycolytic enzymes, particularly when blood sugar levels are high, such as after a meal. In contrast, glucagon functions to increase blood glucose levels when they are low and typically works to inhibit glycolysis. ADH (antidiuretic hormone) is primarily involved in the regulation of water balance in the body and does not have a direct role in glycolysis.

Therefore, while adrenaline can influence glycogen breakdown and indirectly support