How many total equivalent ATP molecules would be produced from 3 moles of glucose through glycolysis in aerobic environment?

• A. 2 ATP
• B. 6 ATP
• C. 7 ATP
• D. 21 ATP

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that glucose metabolism in an aerobic environment involves three main stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation.
2. In glycolysis, each molecule of glucose is converted into two molecules of pyruvate, producing a net gain of 2 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
3. In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate enters the mitochondria where it is converted to acetyl-CoA, which then enters the citric acid cycle. Each glucose molecule results in two turns of the citric acid cycle, producing additional ATP, NADH, and FADH2.
4. The NADH and FADH2 produced in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle are used in oxidative phosphorylation to generate a significant amount of ATP. Each NADH can produce approximately 2.5 ATP, and each FADH2 can produce approximately 1.5 ATP.
5. Calculate the total ATP produced from 3 moles of glucose by considering the ATP yield from glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, and then multiply the total ATP yield per glucose by 3.