Askiitians Tutor Team
Last Activity: 9 Months ago
The conversion of NADH to ATP is not a fixed ratio because the actual yield of ATP from NADH depends on the specific metabolic pathway and conditions involved. However, in general, the theoretical maximum yield of ATP from the complete oxidation of NADH through oxidative phosphorylation is approximately 2.5 to 3 ATP molecules.
During oxidative phosphorylation, NADH donates its electrons to the electron transport chain, leading to the pumping of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This establishes an electrochemical gradient that drives ATP synthesis. The exact number of ATP molecules generated per NADH molecule is not constant due to factors such as the efficiency of the electron transport chain and the specific stoichiometry of the ATP synthase complex.
Therefore, while it is common to estimate that each NADH molecule can yield approximately 2.5 to 3 ATP molecules, it's important to note that this is an approximation, and the actual yield can vary.