Question

What happens to substance produce in glycolysis in presence of oxygen?

Answer 1

Dear student,

Glycolysis ​does not use molecular oxygen in its reactions, i.e.,it is an oxygen independent metabolic pathway. But, the products of glycolysis ,i.e., pyruvate and NADH+H⁺ sometimes use atmospheric oxygen to be disposed of. When molecular oxygen is used, the process is called aerobic, whereas if no oxygen is used for the disposal process it is called anaerobic.
In aerobic process, after glycolysis, the pyruvate gets converted to acetyl-CoA which then enters the Kreb's cycle. This is then followed by electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore,each glucose molecule produce additional 34 ATP molecules , not as part of glycolysis but from the products of glycolysis, i.e., Pyruvate and ​NADH+H⁺.
Thus, in total 36 ATP molecules are produced .

Glycolysis	2 ATP
Transport of NADH into Matrix.	-2ATP
Krebs Cycle (ATP & GTP)	2ATP
Electron Transport (NADH & FADH2)	34ATP
TOTAL	36 ATP

Regards.