How many molL ATP are produced from the aerobic metabolism o

How many mol/L ATP are produced from the aerobic metabolism of 100 mg/L of glucose to inorganic end-products? Assume that GTP is equivalent to ATP, and that oxidative phosphorylation can produce 3 ATP/NADH and 2 ATP/FADH_2. Show your calculations. B) ATP releases -30.5 kJ/mol at standard conditions when hydrolyzed to ADP. Compare your answer in part (A) to the theoretical energy available from aerobic glucose oxidation (use the half-reaction approach on your previous homework) by calculating a thermodynamic efficiency (defined here as the actual energy out/theoretical energy out).

Solution

A. 1 mole of glucose produces net 36 ATP. 100 mg (i.e. 0.1 gram) of glucose = (0.1/180) = 5.5 × 10^-4 moles

ATP produced from 5.5 × 10^-4 mol/L of glucose = 5.5 × 10^-4 × 36 = 0.02 mol/L

B. 1 mole of glucose upon aerobic oxidation (combustion) produces ~3000 KJ energy. 1 mole ATP releases 30.5 KJ energy. In the biological system, 1 mole of glucose produces 36 moles of ATP, i.e. 36 × 30.5 = 1098 KJ.

Thermodynamic efficiency = 1098/3000 × 100% = 36.60%