Question

Compare the ATP output with and without oxygen of a 6 carbon fatty acid to that of glucose. Identify the pathways each is catabolized through and the contribution to the total ATP from each pathway. I expect four descriptions in this answer. Where the same pathway is involved (the TCA for example) you can refer to previous descriptions.

Answer 1

1. ATP output of 6- carbon fatty acid:

a. Activation of Fatty Acid- It utilises 2 ATP molecule.

b. Beta- Oxidation- It produces 1 NADH and 1 FADH for each acetyl CoA. So, for 3 Acteyl CoA molecules produced the net ATP produced will be 3 (3X1 + 2 X1) = 3 X 5= 15 ATP.

c. Krebs cycle- yield 1 ATP, 3 NADH and 1 FADH₂. SO total ATP produced will be 1+ 3X2+2X1=9 ATP. for Three Acetyl CoA molecules, teh net ATP produced will be 3 X 9= 27

So, total ATP produced by Anerobic catabolism of fatty acid will be 27+15-2= 04 ATP molecules.

2. ATP produced by Aerobic catabolism of Glucose:

a. Glycolysis: Glycolysis converts a sugar molecule into pyurvate and yields 38ATP molecule. 2 ATP from glycolysis, 2 ATP from krebs cycle and 34 from electron transport chain)

3. ATP produced by Anaerobic method: 2 ATP are produced by fermentation of glucose molecule.