The Krebs cycle yields how many ATP per acetyl-CoA under aerobic conditions?

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Multiple Choice

The Krebs cycle yields how many ATP per acetyl-CoA under aerobic conditions?

Explanation:
In the Krebs cycle, each acetyl-CoA entering the turn yields energy-rich products: three NADH, one FADH2, and one GTP. That GTP is formed by substrate-level phosphorylation and is directly equivalent to one ATP. The NADH and FADH2 then pass their electrons to the electron transport chain, where they generate additional ATP (about 2.5 ATP per NADH and 1.5 ATP per FADH2). So, while the total energy yield per acetyl-CoA in aerobic respiration is roughly 10 ATP equivalents, the direct ATP produced within the cycle itself is one. The other numbers reflect the combined output after oxidative phosphorylation, not the cycle’s direct, substrate-level step.

In the Krebs cycle, each acetyl-CoA entering the turn yields energy-rich products: three NADH, one FADH2, and one GTP. That GTP is formed by substrate-level phosphorylation and is directly equivalent to one ATP. The NADH and FADH2 then pass their electrons to the electron transport chain, where they generate additional ATP (about 2.5 ATP per NADH and 1.5 ATP per FADH2). So, while the total energy yield per acetyl-CoA in aerobic respiration is roughly 10 ATP equivalents, the direct ATP produced within the cycle itself is one. The other numbers reflect the combined output after oxidative phosphorylation, not the cycle’s direct, substrate-level step.

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