How many ATP will be produced during the production of 1molecule of acetyl CoA from 1 molecule of pyruvic acid ?

Options

A. 3 ATP
B. 5 ATP
C. 8 ATP
D. 38 ATP

Answer

To determine how many ATP molecules are produced during the conversion of 1 molecule of pyruvic acid to 1 molecule of acetyl CoA, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Glycolysis**:
- Glycolysis is the process where one molecule of glucose (a six-carbon compound) is broken down into two molecules of pyruvic acid (each a three-carbon compound). This occurs in the cytoplasm and produces a net gain of 2 ATP and 2 NADH.

2. **Conversion of Pyruvic Acid to Acetyl CoA**:
- Each pyruvic acid molecule is transported into the mitochondria, where it undergoes oxidative decarboxylation. This process converts pyruvic acid into acetyl CoA, which is a two-carbon molecule. During this reaction, one carbon dioxide molecule is released.

3. **Role of NADH**:
- During the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA, one molecule of NAD+ is reduced to NADH. This means that for each pyruvic acid converted, 1 NADH is produced.

4. **ATP Yield from NADH**:
- Each NADH molecule that is produced can be oxidized in the electron transport chain (ETC) to produce ATP. Typically, the oxidation of one NADH in the ETC yields approximately 3 ATP molecules.

5. **Final Calculation**:
- Since 1 molecule of pyruvic acid produces 1 NADH, and this NADH can generate 3 ATP, the total ATP produced from the conversion of 1 molecule of pyruvic acid to 1 molecule of acetyl CoA is **3 ATP**.

### Conclusion:
Thus, the answer to the question is that **3 ATP molecules are produced during the conversion of 1 molecule of pyruvic acid to 1 molecule of acetyl CoA**.

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