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Multiple Choice
Which of the following compounds yields the most ATP per molecule during cellular respiration?
A
Glucose
B
Pyruvate
C
Fatty acids
D
Amino acids
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of cellular respiration, which includes glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, where ATP is produced.
Recognize that glucose is a primary energy source that undergoes glycolysis to form pyruvate, which then enters the citric acid cycle, ultimately leading to ATP production.
Consider that pyruvate is an intermediate in cellular respiration, derived from glucose, and contributes to ATP production when it enters the citric acid cycle.
Acknowledge that fatty acids undergo beta-oxidation, a process that breaks them down into acetyl-CoA units, which enter the citric acid cycle, producing a significant amount of ATP.
Note that amino acids can be used for energy, but they are primarily used for protein synthesis and yield less ATP compared to fatty acids, as they must first be deaminated and converted into intermediates that enter the citric acid cycle.