by Stanislav Kocur
(Tottenham, London, UK)
Visitor's comment: Degradation of one molecule of glucose gives net production of four ATPs, eight NADHs and one FADH2. One NADH gives seven protons (four through the complex I and three through the complex III) and FADH gives three protons (through the complex II). All together gives number of 59 protons (8x7+3=59).
If you've stated that one glucose unit gives 36 ATPs and I substract those four ATPs producted outside of the electron transport chain I can calculate net production of ATPs per a single proton: 36 - 4 = 32; 32/59 = 0.5714257 ATP.
What is not clear to me is how did you get the number 36 ATPs per a single glucose? My question is about the exact process of ATP synthase. I know that per one turn of ATP synthase's rotor ATPs are made but I don't know how many protons are used to make a whole turn. Actually I can have a look how many polypeptides are there in proton loading subunit of F0 part because every single polypeptide loads one proton. According to the number of ATPs I've got (0.5714257) I can calculate number of proton loading polypeptides in loading subunit: 3/0.5714257 = 5.25002638. That's beautiful number but it cannot be a number of polypeptides in the subunit. I guess there are five subunits only and proton load of whole turn makes little more motion than 360°.
I am not sure if my suggestions are correct I need your answer.