energy production (tricarboxylic acid cycle)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The tricarboxylic acid cycle can produce the equivalent of 12 molecules of ATP per molecule of acetyl-CoA oxidized. This is produced as follows:
- isocitrate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of NADH
- oxoglutarate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of NADH
- succinyl-CoA synthetase produces 1 molecule of GTP
- succinate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of FADH2
- malate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of NADH
Via the electron transport chain, each molecule of NADH produces 3 molecules of ATP. The FADH2 coenzyme of succinate dehydrogenase can produce 2 molecules of ATP.
Overall, counting the 3 molecules of ATP for each reaction that pyruvate dehydrogenase catalyzes, the complete oxidation of 1 molecule of glucose via glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle can yield 38 molecules of ATP.