(i) It is also called as hexose monophosphate shunt, because this pathway occurs in presence of oxygen, and involves direct oxidation of glucose-6-phosphate.
(ii) In PPP for every six molecules of glucose, one is completely oxidised to CO2 and H2O, while the other five are regenerated. Oxidation of glucose is linked to the formation of NADPH2.
(iii) Glucose is phosphorylated to glucose 6-phosphate by ATP.
(iv) Glucose 6-PO4 undergoes two dehydrogenation through a number of intermediates to yield ribulose-5-phosphate, two molecules of NADPH + H+ and a molecule of CO2.
(v) Complete oxidation of a molecule of glucose produces 12 molecules of NADPH+H+ , which is equivalent to 36 ATP molecules.
(vi) Thus, the energy released in the oxidation of glucose via this pathway is almost equal to that of common pathway that liberates 38 ATP molecules per molecule of glucose. Pentose phosphate pathway occurs in cytoplasm but takes the help of mitochondria for producing ATP.
