How many ATP molecules can be produced from one molecule of glucose during aerobic respiration?

During aerobic respiration, one molecule of glucose can yield a maximum of approximately 30 to 38 ATP molecules, depending on specific cellular conditions and efficiency of the electron transport chain. The most commonly cited figure in textbooks is 36 or 38 ATP for eukaryotic cells.

The process begins with glycolysis, which takes place in the cytoplasm and produces a net gain of 2 ATP molecules. Next, the pyruvate molecules from glycolysis enter the mitochondria and undergo pyruvate oxidation, resulting in the production of NADH. This is followed by the Krebs cycle (Citric Acid Cycle), where additional NADH and FADH2 molecules are generated, contributing to the electron transport chain.

The electron transport chain, which occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane, is where the majority of ATP is produced. The NADH produced during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle donates electrons that travel through a series of proteins in the chain, leading to the pumping of protons out into the intermembrane space, creating an electrochemical gradient. This gradient drives ATP synthesis as protons flow back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase.

Considering these stages and the fact that each NADH can yield approximately 2.5 ATP and each