A new antibiotic is produced that inhibits the synthesis of acetyl-CoA and the electron transport chain in bacteria. For each glucose molecule that is metabolized, how many fewer ATP molecules will be produced?

4

38

34

2

36

36 ATPs

Explanation:

Cellular respiration starts with glycolysis wherein glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate. The process of glycolysis forms two molecules of ATP by substrate-level phosphorylation for each glucose molecule. Both pyruvate molecules are converted into acetyl CoA to enter into the Kreb's cycle. Kreb's cycle forms two ATP molecules by substrate-level phosphorylation. NADH and FADH2 formed during glycolysis and Kreb's cycle are oxidized by the electron transport chain. This process also forms as many as 34 ATP molecules. If acetyl CoA is not formed, the total ATP gain per glucose will be only 2 ATP molecules (from glycolysis only) which is 38-2 = 36 less than the total.