Question

If you directly compared glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, which generates more energy on its own?

Answer 1

ANSWER :

Gycolysis is the first step of both aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration, which occurs in the cytoplasm of the cells and does not require oxygen to happen. During the whole process, two molecules of ATP consumed while four ATP were produced via substrate-enzyme reactions. Hence there would be net gain of 2 ATP during the complete process.

The glucose molecule generates two pyruvate molecules via glycolysis, and each pyruvate molecule undergoes oxidation process to change into a molecule of acetyl CoA. Each molecule of acetyl CoA further enters into the citric acid (Kreb's) cycle, which happen in the matrix of mitochondria. This aerobic step will produce net gain of 2 ATP and 6 molecules of NADH, and 2 FADH2 molecules.

Hence, if we directly compare the glycolysis and citric acid cycle, then citric acid cycle would be considered to be more energy generating step.