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Energy production (tricarboxylic acid cycle)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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The tricarboxylic acid cycle can produce the equivalent of 12 molecules of ATP per molecule of acetyl-CoA oxidized. This is produced as follows:

  • isocitrate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of NADH
  • oxoglutarate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of NADH
  • succinyl-CoA synthetase produces 1 molecule of GTP
  • succinate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of FADH2
  • malate dehydrogenase produces 1 molecule of NADH

Via the electron transport chain, each molecule of NADH produces 3 molecules of ATP. The FADH2 coenzyme of succinate dehydrogenase can produce 2 molecules of ATP.

Overall, counting the 3 molecules of ATP for each reaction that pyruvate dehydrogenase catalyzes, the complete oxidation of 1 molecule of glucose via glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle can yield 38 molecules of ATP.


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