Final answer:
Prokaryotes carry out aerobic respiration using the cell membrane where electron transport chain processes are located. Photosynthetic prokaryotes have membrane infoldings similar to thylakoids, and glycolysis occurs in the cytosol for both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prokaryotes carry out aerobic respiration even though they lack mitochondria. Instead, the cell membrane of prokaryotes takes on a crucial role. In eukaryotic cells, aerobic respiration processes take place inside mitochondria, but in prokaryotic cells, these processes, particularly the electron transport chain, are located within the cell membrane. Prokaryotes have cytoplasm where other metabolic pathways occur, and in photosynthetic prokaryotes, there are infolded regions of the plasma membrane that function similarly to how thylakoids operate in chloroplasts, though not organized into organelles.
Furthermore, metabolic activities in prokaryotes are varied. Some use anaerobic respiration, using inorganic molecules other than oxygen as the final electron acceptor, but aerobic prokaryotes utilize oxygen to generate ATP. This method of energy production is more efficient and contributes to the ecological success of many prokaryotic species. The glycolysis pathway, which precedes the electron transport chain in aerobic respiration, occurs in the cytosol in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.