Activated Carrier Molecules Activated carriers couple energy release from spontaneous, energetically favorable reactions to energetically unfavorable reactions. All nucleoside triphosphates can readily interchange phosphates and transfer energy between them. This energy is not the highest or the lowest of activated carriers. Acetyl-CoA is another activated carrier.
Glycolysis is the first state in the breakdown of glucose to produce activated carriers.
Glucokinase has a higher K M than hexokinase. When glucose concentration is very high, as after a meal, this enzyme functions most effectively. Inhibitors include ATP, citrate, and long-chain fatty acids. But, the aldolases in bacteria operate by a different mechanism. As each unit binds a substate molecule, the other units become less able to bind and catalyze subsequent substrate molecules.