the methylglyoxal pathway is an offshoot of glycolysis found in some prokaryotes, which converts glucose into methylglyoxal and then into pyruvate. however unlike glycolysis the methylglyoxal pathway does not produce adenosine triphosphate, atp. the pathway is named after the substrate methylglyoxal which has three carbons and two carbonyl groups located on the 1st carbon and one on the 2nd carbon. methylglyoxal is, however, a reactive aldehyde that is very toxic to cells, it can inhibit growth in "e. coli" at milimolar concentrations. the excessive intake of glucose by a cell is the most important process for the activation of the methylglyoxal pathway.