Methods

Tinker Cell

A program called TinkerCell was utilized to help visualize the steps taken through glycolysis and the fatty-acid pathway to create alkanes. The image created in TinkerCell allows one to see each step in the modification of a molecule. Beginningwith glucose and ending with alkanes, the image shows what the molecule becomes, which enzyme catalyzes the reaction, what type of reaction occurs, what is required for the reaction to occur, and the other products of the reaction.