Final answer:
The net production of ATP in glycolysis is two molecules; however, this is effectively zero when accounting for the energy cost of transporting NADH into the mitochondria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The net production of ATP upon the completion of the series of glycolytic reactions is two molecules of ATP. During glycolysis, a glucose molecule is broken down and transforms into two molecules of pyruvate.
This process involves several steps, with four molecules of ATP produced and two molecules of ATP consumed, resulting in a net gain of two ATP molecules. These two ATP molecules, however, are then used for transporting the NADH from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria, essential for the subsequent stages of cellular respiration.
Therefore, the net ATP yield is considered to be zero when considering the cost of NADH transport into the mitochondria.
After glycolysis, products such as NADH and FADH2 continue into the electron transport chain (ETC), where they facilitate the production of additional ATP. Within the ETC, three ATP molecules are typically produced per oxidized NADH and two ATP molecules per oxidized FADH2.
It is important to note that complete oxidation of glucose involves not just glycolysis but also the citric acid cycle and the ETC, ultimately yielding a much higher number of ATP molecules.