9. Compare the ATP production per gram of material between these 2 molecules: a)

Question

9. Compare  the  ATP  production  per  gram   of   material   between  these  2  molecules:  
a) Complete  oxidation   of   one   mole   of   palmitate   (16:0   fatty   acid)  all  the  way  through  ox-phos.
b) Glucose  undergoing  glycolysis  in  the  absence  of  oxygen  (so,  lactate  is  produced).  
c) Complete  oxidation   of   one   mole   of   glucose   all   the   way   through   ox-phos.
 d) When  glycogen  is  degraded,   it   forms   glucose-6-phosphate.  How  will  this  change  the  overall  ATP  yield,  or  will  it  not  change  the  yield  at  all?  

Explanation / Answer

a)

Oxidation of of palmitic acid yields 7 NADH + 7 FADH2 + 8 acetyl-CoA in 7 cycles of mitochondrial beta oxidation. Every acetyl-CoA yields 3 NADH + 1 FADH2 + 1 GTP (=ATP) during Krebs cycle. Considering an average production of 3 ATP/NADH and 2 ATP/FADH2 using the respiratory chain, you have 131 ATP molecules. However you have to used 2 ATP molecules for the initial activation of every fatty acid that is going to be oxidized in the mitochondria, so you will remain with 129.

b)

Two ATP molecules

c)

38 ATP

d)

39 ATP.

In glycolysis, conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate reduces 1 ATP molecule; however converion of glycogen to glucose-6-phospahte does not change ATP level, so net gain during glycolysis is 3 ATP. Complete oxidation will yield 39 ATP.

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