Question

Calculate the number of ATP generated from one saturated 10 ‑carbon fatty acid. Assume that each NADH molecule generates 2.5 ATP and that each FADH2 molecule generates 1.5 ATP .

Answer 1

Answer:

Total ATP molecules produced = 66 molecules of ATP

Explanation:

A 10-carbon fatty acid when it has undergone complete oxidation will yield 5 acetyl-CoA molecules and 4 FADH₂ and 4 NADH molecules each. Each of the 5 acetyl-CoA molecules enters into the citric acid cycle and is completely oxidized to yield further ATP and  FADH₂ and NADH molecules.

The total yield of ATP in the various enzymatic step is calculated below:

Acyl-CoA dehydrodenase = 4 FADH₂

β-Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase = 4 NADH

Isocitrate dehydrogenase = 5 NADH

α-Ketoglutarate dehydrogenase = 5 NADH

Succinyl-CoA synthase = 5 ATP (from substrate-level phosphorylation of GDP)

Succinate dehydrogenase = 5 FADH₂

Malate dehydrogenase = 5 NADH

Total ATP  from FADH₂ molecoles = 9 * 1.5 = 13.5

Total NADH molecules = 19 * 2.5 = 47.5

Total ATP molecules produced = 13.5 + 47.5 + 5

Total ATP molecules produced = 66 molecules of ATP