Question

Which reduced coenzymes start the production of ATP?

Answer 1

An organic compound with hydrotrope which provides energy to the cell to perform all the metabolic activities is called ATP. It is also known as the energy currency of the cell. For proper functioning of an enzyme it also requires some additional components. Coenzymes are non-protein organic molecules combined with the enzyme for proper functioning.

Complete answer:
An organic compound with hydrotrope which provides energy to the cell to perform all the metabolic activities like muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, chemical synthesis, etc is called ATP. When adenosine diphosphate (ADP) combines with inorganic phosphate it forms adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

The three main pathways in eukaryotes in which ATP is formed is glycolysis, citric acid cycle and beta oxidation. The oxidation of glucose to carbon dioxide is known as cellular respiration and it produces around 30 ATP molecules from each glucose molecule.

In the process of glycolysis, glucose is converted to pyruvate. Two equivalents of ATP and NADH are formed in glycolysis. In the citric acid cycle, pyruvate is oxidized by pyruvate dehydrogenase complex which is fully oxidized to carbon dioxide. After completing glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, the electron transport chain, and oxidative phosphorylation, approximately 30–38 ATP molecules are produced per glucose.

The reduced coenzymes NADH and $FADH_2$ produced in glycolysis and in the citric acid cycle start the production of ATP. Oxidation of NADH and $FADH_2$ along with ATP synthesis is in oxidative phosphorylation. On the oxidation of one molecule of NADH, 3 molecules of ATP are produced and on the oxidation of one molecule of $FADH_2$, 2 molecules of ATP are produced.

Note:
The reduced coenzymes NADH and $FADH_2$ produced in glycolysis and in the citric acid cycle start the production of ATP. On the oxidation of one molecule of NADH, 3 molecules of ATP are produced and on the oxidation of one molecule of $FADH_2$, 2 molecules of ATP are produced.