How much ATP is produce with 16c?

Question

This is for an exercise physiology course, but how does that work in glycolysis because breaks it down factors of 3...you would end up with 5 pyruvate, but what about the .33?

Answer 1

In glycolysis, the substrate is glucose (6 carbons):

C_6H_{12}O_6 \rightarrow 2\;pyruvate\;(3C\;each)

So:

1. 1 glucose (6C) → 2 pyruvate (3C each)
2. Carbon atoms are conserved (6 = 3 + 3)

If you start with a hypothetical 16-carbon molecule, you cannot simply divide 16 by 3 and get 5.33 pyruvate molecules. Cells do not produce fractional molecules. Carbon atoms must be accounted for through other metabolic pathways.

If the 16-carbon compound is a fatty acid such as palmitate (16:0), it is not metabolized by glycolysis. Instead, it undergoes β-oxidation, producing:

1. 8 acetyl-CoA
2. 7 NADH
3. 7 FADH₂

Complete oxidation of one palmitate molecule yields about 106 ATP in modern calculations.

So the answer depends on what the “16C” refers to:

1. 16-carbon carbohydrate: not a normal glycolysis substrate; you would not get 5.33 pyruvate.
2. 16-carbon fatty acid (palmitate): approximately 106 ATP after complete oxidation.

If this is from your Exercise Physiology course, tell me the exact molecule they mean by “16C” and I can calculate the ATP yield step by step.