Question

If a cell is able to synthesize 30 ATP molecules for each molecule of glucose completely oxidized to carbon dioxide and water, approximately how many ATP molecules can the cell synthesize for each molecule of pyruvate oxidized to carbon dioxide and water?

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is - 14 OR 15 ATP.

Explanation:

At the end of the glycolysis, two molecules of the pyruvate produced in the cytoplasm which is followed by the pyruvate oxidation that takes place in the matrix of mitochondria in eukaryotes.

During the oxidation of the pyruvate, a carboxyl group is eliminated from the pyruvate and released as CO₂. Then the two carbon molecules oxidized produced in the first step and NAD+ accepts the electron and change into the NADH. The oxidized two carbon molecules attached to the coenzyme A and form acetyl CoA. This process generates 1 NADH which is equal to the 3 ATP.

During the TCA cycle, each molecule of the acetyl CoA oxidized to generate ATP  and carbon dioxide. This cycle produces 1 ATP, 1 FADH2, and 3 NADH. The total ATP production through this cycle is Approximately 12.

Thus, the correct answer is - 14 or 15 ATP.