What is the total ATP yield from complete eukaryotic aerobic respiration of one glucose molecule?

The total ATP yield from the complete aerobic respiration of one glucose molecule in eukaryotic cells is generally considered to be around 30 to 32 ATP. However, under optimal conditions, it can reach as high as 36 to 38 ATP, depending on the efficiency of the processes involved and the types of shuttle mechanisms used to transport electrons into the mitochondria.

During glucose metabolism, glycolysis occurs in the cytosol and produces a net gain of 2 ATP and 2 NADH molecules. Each NADH generated in glycolysis can typically produce around 2.5 ATP when the electrons are transferred into the electron transport chain (ETC), resulting in an additional 5 ATP from the 2 NADH.

Following glycolysis, pyruvate undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to form acetyl-CoA, producing 2 NADH per glucose molecule (as each glucose produces 2 pyruvate). The citric acid cycle, which operates in the mitochondrial matrix, generates 6 NADH, 2 FADH2, and 2 ATP (or GTP) directly per glucose. The NADH and FADH2 produced during this cycle ultimately contribute to the proton gradient used to generate ATP via oxidative