Science, Tech, Math › Science Understanding Which Metabolic Pathways Produce ATP in Glucose Share Flipboard Email Print Science Photo Library / Getty Images Science Chemistry Biochemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Facebook Twitter Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on May 06, 2019 It's important to know how many ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, are produced per glucose molecule by various metabolic pathways, such as the Krebs cycle, fermentation, glycolysis, electron transport, and chemiosmosis. Take a look at how many net ATP are produced per pathway and which yields the most ATP per glucose. Here is the breakdown of net ATP production: Glycolysis: 2 ATP Krebs Cycle: 2 ATP Oxidative Phosphorylation (Electron Transport Chain/Chemiosmosis): 28 ATP Fermentation: 2 ATP So, oxidative phosphorylation is the metabolic cycle that produces the most net ATP per glucose molecule. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Understanding Which Metabolic Pathways Produce ATP in Glucose." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/pathway-most-atp-per-glucose-molecule-608200. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 27). Understanding Which Metabolic Pathways Produce ATP in Glucose. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/pathway-most-atp-per-glucose-molecule-608200 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Understanding Which Metabolic Pathways Produce ATP in Glucose." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/pathway-most-atp-per-glucose-molecule-608200 (accessed June 9, 2023). copy citation Featured Video