why can prokaryotes make more ATP than eukaryotes

1 answer

Total Theoretical Maximum Number of ATP Generated per Glucose in Prokaryotes

38 ATP: 4 from substrate-level phosphorylation; 34 from oxidative phosphorylation.

In eukaryotic cells, the theoretical maximum yield of ATP generated per glucose is 36 to 38, depending on how the 2 NADH generated in the cytoplasm during glycolysis enter the mitochondria and whether the resulting yield is 2 or 3 ATP per NADH.