Question

Calculate the ATP yield when glucose is catabolised completely to 6 CO2 by an eukaryotic microbe. Will the ATP yield remain same if the catabolism of glucose is carried out by a bacterium? Explain.

Answer 1

The complete catabolism of glucose to 6 CO2 involves glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. During this process, the energy generated from the oxidation of glucose is conserved in the form of ATP.

In eukaryotes, each molecule of glucose produces 2 ATP from glycolysis, 2 ATP from pyruvate oxidation, 2 ATP from TCA cycle, and approximately 28-32 ATP from oxidative phosphorylation, yielding a total of 32-36 ATP per glucose molecule. However, the exact ATP yield can vary depending on the type of eukaryotic cell and its specific metabolic pathways.

In bacteria, the ATP yield from glucose catabolism can also vary depending on the specific metabolic pathways and electron transport chain components used. However, some bacteria may have a lower ATP yield compared to eukaryotes because they have simpler metabolic pathways and electron transport chains.

Overall, the ATP yield from glucose catabolism is influenced by various factors, including the metabolic pathways used, electron transport chain components, and efficiency of ATP synthesis.