Question

Why do prokaryotes produce more ATP?

Answer 1

Prokaryotes:

1. Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that are devoid of a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
2. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) carries energy produced by cellular chemical interactions and helps drive metabolic processes.
3. Prokaryotes don't possess any membrane-bound organelles and thus cellular respiration occurs in the cytoplasm itself.
4. One glucose molecule is metabolized to produce 38 ATP molecules.
5. In eukaryotic cells, some ATP molecules are spent in the transport of metabolic intermediates from the cytoplasm to mitochondria.
6. The ATP molecules produced in prokaryotes need not be transported elsewhere and thus no energy expenditure occurs.
7. Since ATP generation occurs in the cytoplasm itself in prokaryotes, the net amount of ATP produced in prokaryotes is higher compared to eukaryotes.