Question

Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?a. glucose or stearic acid (C18)

Accepted Answer

Step 1: Understand the context of ATP production. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency in cells, and its production depends on the oxidation of molecules during cellular respiration. Larger molecules with more carbon atoms typically yield more ATP because they undergo more cycles of oxidation. Step 2: Compare the molecular structures of glucose and stearic acid (C_{18}). Glucose ($$C_{6}H$$_{12}$$O_{6}) is a carbohydrate with six carbon atoms, while stearic acid (C$$_{18}$$H_{36}O$$_{2}) is a fatty acid with eighteen carbon atoms. Step 3: Analyze the metabolic pathways. Glucose undergoes glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, producing ATP. Stearic acid undergoes beta-oxidation, which breaks it into acetyl-CoA units that enter the citric acid cycle, producing significantly more ATP due to its larger number of carbon atoms. Step 4: Consider the energy yield per mole. Each acetyl-CoA unit generated from beta-oxidation of stearic acid contributes to ATP production, and since stearic acid has 18 carbons, it produces more acetyl-CoA units compared to glucose, which has only 6 carbons. Step 5: Conclude that stearic acid (C_{18}) will produce the most ATP per mole because it has more carbon atoms and undergoes more cycles of oxidation, yielding a higher total ATP production compared to glucose.

Which of the following molecules will produce the most ATP per mole?
a. glucose or stearic acid (C₁₈)

비슷한 문제에 대한 검증된 영상 답변:

주요 개념

Cellular Respiration

Fatty Acid Oxidation

ATP Yield Comparison