Question

In prokaryotic cells how many total ATP are generated through glycolysis, prep step, citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation?

Answer 1

In prokaryotic cells,a total of 32 ATP s are produced through cellular respiration.

The difference or an increase of two ATP molecules in prokaryotes when compared to eukaryotes (30) is because there is no need of transport of shuttle systems for the transport of NADH into the mitochondria in prokaryotes. In prokaryotes, since there is no membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria, tca cycle takes place in the cytoplasm and oxidative phosphorylation at the cell membrane.

The no of ATP produced in different stages are.,

Glycolysis-------> 2 ATP through substrate level phosphorylation, 2 NADH

Pyruvate into acetyl co-A---->2 NADH

Krebs cycle--------> 2 ATP through substrate level phosphorylation, 6 NADH, 2 FADH2

Making it a total of 32 ATP. The ATP from NADH and FADH2 is synthesised during the oxidative phosphorylation. (1NADH= 2.5 ATP, 1 FADH2= 1.5 ATP)