Glycerol can be oxidized to pyruvate. For one glycerol, how many ATP is needed, and how many ATP are produced? How many NADH are produced?

The correct answer will be-

1. ATP needed - 1

2. ATP produced - 2

3. NADH produced - 2

Explanation:

Glycerol is present as a constituent of the fatty acid which ca undergo oxidation to produce energy molecules in the form of ATP through Beta oxidation.

The Glycerol can be oxidized to pyruvate in the mitochondria and require ATP molecule and form NADH an ATP molecule.

The conversion of glycerol to pyruvate requires 1 ATP and produces 2 ATP and 2 NADH. NADH will produce 3 ATP molecules during the electron transport chain and thus 2 NADH provides 6 ATP molecules.

Out of 2 ATP molecules since 1 ATP molecule is utilized therefore 1 ATP molecule will remain. This shows that a total of 7 ATP will be produced during the conversion of glycerol to pyruvate.