In aerobic metabolism of one molecule of glucose, which process produces the most ATP (directly or via the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis) during cellular respiration?
A
Oxidative phosphorylation (electron transport chain coupled to ATP synthase)
Step 1: Understand the overall process of aerobic metabolism of glucose, which includes glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation (electron transport chain coupled to ATP synthase).
Step 2: Identify the ATP yield from glycolysis, which produces a small amount of ATP directly through substrate-level phosphorylation.
Step 3: Recognize that the citric acid cycle also produces a limited amount of ATP directly via substrate-level phosphorylation, along with high-energy electron carriers (NADH and FADH2).
Step 4: Understand that oxidative phosphorylation uses the electrons from NADH and FADH2 to drive the electron transport chain, creating a proton gradient that powers ATP synthase to produce a large amount of ATP.
Step 5: Conclude that oxidative phosphorylation produces the most ATP during aerobic metabolism of one glucose molecule, far exceeding the ATP produced directly by glycolysis or the citric acid cycle.