Question

How many ATPs are formed at the step of glycolysis?

Answer 1

Glycolysis ( glycos- sugar, lysis- splitting), is the initial step of respiration which occurs in cytoplasm, and is common to both aerobic and anaerobic respiration. During glycolysis, glucose is partially oxidised to produce two molecules of pyruvic acid which is further oxidised aerobically in mitochondria, or anaerobically in cytoplasm depending upon the organism. The whole process of oxidation of one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvic acid involves ten reactions, during which two NADH, and four molecules of ATP are produced. It also consumes two molecules of ATP. Thus, net recovery is two ATP and two NADH molecules. These NADH produce six molecules of ATP through electron transport system. Hence, a total of 8 ATP molecules are produced from glycolysis.