Question

During complete metabolism of glucose, the number of ${\rm{ATP}}$ formed is
A. ${\rm{2}}$
B. ${\rm{12}}$
C. ${\rm{36}}$
D. ${\rm{44}}$

Answer 1

One molecule of ${\rm{NAD}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}$ is equal to three ${\rm{ATP}}$ molecules and one ${\rm{FAD}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}$ is equal to two molecules of ${\rm{ATP}}$. In aerobic respiration total ${\rm{10NAD}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}$ are produced.

Complete Answer:
The full breakdown of glucose is a sequence of chemical reactions that describe the transition of glucose into adenosine triphosphate during normal aerobic cellular respiration phases. It is typically performed within the mitochondria to release the maximum amount of energy.
Glycolysis, the initial step of glucose metabolism, occurs in the cytosol and does not require molecular ${{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$. It contains less amount of ${\rm{ATP}}$ and a three-carbon pyruvate compound. In aerobic cells, pyruvate produced in glycolysis is transferred to mitochondria, where it is oxidized by ${{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ to ${\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$. Through chemical coupling, the oxidation of pyruvate in mitochondria produces the bulk of the ATP generated during the transformation of glucose to ${\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$.
There is a gain in ${\rm{2ATP}}$ molecules during glycolysis and ${\rm{2ATP}}$ molecules during the double Krebs cycle. A total of $10$ molecules of ${\rm{NAD}}{{\rm{H}}_{\rm{2}}}$are produced in aerobic respiration. Thus, the net benefit from the full oxidation of the glucose molecule in the muscle and nerve cells is ${\rm{36ATP}}$ molecules. ${\rm{38ATP}}$ molecules are oxidized per glucose molecule in aerobic prokaryotes, nucleus, liver and kidneys. The transfer of ${\rm{ATP}}$molecules from the inside of mitochondria to the cytoplasm are facilitated by diffusion. Thus, the net production of ${\rm{ATP}}$ molecules depending on the form of aerobic respiration is $36$ or $38$.

Thus, the correct answer is option C. i.e., $36$.

Note: The net benefit from the full oxidation of the glucose molecule in the muscle and nerve cells is ${\rm{36ATP}}$ molecules. ${\rm{38ATP}}$ molecules are oxidized per glucose molecule in aerobic prokaryotes, nucleus, liver and kidneys.