Anaerobic glycolysis is the transformation of
glucose to
lactate when limited amounts of
oxygen (O
2) are available. Anaerobic glycolysis is only an effective means of energy production during short, intense exercise, providing energy for a period ranging from 10 seconds to 2 minutes. The anaerobic glycolysis (lactic acid) system is dominant from about 10–30 seconds during a maximal effort. It replenishes very quickly over this period and produces 2
ATP molecules per glucose molecule, or about 5% of glucose's energy potential (38 ATP molecules). The speed at which ATP is produced is about 100 times that of
oxidative phosphorylation. The pH in the
cytoplasm quickly drops when
hydrogen ions accumulate in the muscle, eventually inhibiting enzymes involved in glycolysis.