Explain where each molecule of ATP produced during aerobic cellular respiration comes from. Include how NADH and FADH2 contribute to the production of ATP. Make sure to mention how many molecules of ATP are produced by the steps in aerobic cellular respiration.

The ATP molecules are formed during aerobic respiration by both substrate level phosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation.

Explanation:

NADH and FADH2 are the reduced from of NAD and FAD. The NADH and FADH2 enters electron transport chain where they act as electron donor and donates electron. The donated electron is transported through various electron carriers to the ultimate electron acceptor know as oxygen which is reduced to water (H2O) along with the formation of ATP.

38 molecules of ATP are formed by during the complete oxidation of glucose to CO2 and H2O by aerobic respiration.

reduced

cytoplasm

aerobic

pyruvate

oxaloacetate

oxygen

Two molecules of ATP are produced during glycolysis, along with two molecules of NADH. Two additional molecules of NADH are produced during pyruvate oxidation. Two more molecules of ATP are produced during the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle leads to the production of six more NADH molecules and two FADH2 molecules. The electron transport chain and ATP synthase use electrons from the NADH molecules and FADH2 molecules to generate 34 more molecules of ATP. In total, 38 molecules of ATP are produced during aerobic cellular respiration.

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