Which step in cellular respiration produces the most ATP?

1 answer

The step in cellular respiration that produces the most ATP is oxidative phosphorylation, specifically during the process known as chemiosmosis. This phase occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane and involves the electron transport chain and ATP synthase. It is responsible for generating the majority of ATP produced during cellular respiration, with estimates typically indicating that it can yield around 26 to 28 ATP molecules per glucose molecule, depending on the efficiency and conditions of the cell.