Final answer:
The oxidation of 1 pyruvate molecule through the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and the TCA cycle in the presence of oxygen yields 3 CO2 molecules, 1 molecule ATP, 3 NADH molecules, and 1 FADH2 molecule as net products.
Step-by-step explanation:
When oxygen is plentiful, the oxidation of 1 pyruvate molecule in the mitochondria leads to significant metabolic activity. Upon entering the mitochondria, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase facilitates the conversion of pyruvate into Acetyl-S-Coenzyme A (Ac-S-CoA). This Ac-S-CoA is then fed into the TCA cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle or citric acid cycle) within healthy, respiring animal mitochondria. The process fully oxidizes Ac-S-CoA to CO2 and generates several reduced electron carriers, NADH and FADH2, which are critical for ATP production in the later stages of cellular respiration.
The TCA cycle leads to the net production of CO2 and offers a minimal gain in ATP directly. However, it is primarily the production of NADH and FADH2 during this cycle that is significant, as these molecules harbor most of the free energy initially present in glucose. These reduced carriers are destined for the electron transport chain where they will facilitate the production of a larger yield of ATP. Thus, the complete oxidation of one pyruvate molecule via the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and the TCA cycle will ultimately generate three molecules of CO2, one molecule ATP, three molecules of NADH, and one molecule of FADH2.