Sure, let's walk through the process of glycolysis and calculate the net gain of ATP from one molecule of glucose.
1. Glycolysis Overview:
Glycolysis is a series of enzymatic reactions that occurs in the cytoplasm of cells and breaks down one molecule of glucose (a 6-carbon molecule) into two molecules of pyruvate (each a 3-carbon molecule).
2. ATP Consumption:
During the glycolysis process, the cell initially invests 2 ATP molecules to get the process started. These ATP molecules are used in the early steps of glycolysis to phosphorylate glucose and its derivatives.
3. ATP Production:
As the glycolytic pathway proceeds, it generates 4 ATP molecules from substrate-level phosphorylation. This occurs in the later steps of glycolysis.
4. Net Gain Calculation:
To find the net gain of ATP, we subtract the ATP molecules initially consumed from the ATP molecules produced:
[tex]\[
\text{Net Gain of ATP} = \text{ATP produced} - \text{ATP consumed}
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
\text{Net Gain of ATP} = 4 - 2
\][/tex]
[tex]\[
\text{Net Gain of ATP} = 2
\][/tex]
Therefore, the net gain of ATP from one molecule of glucose during glycolysis is 2 ATP molecules.
