Figure 1.

The multiple pathways available for the production of cellular ATP. In the cytoplasm of the cell, glycolysis generates four molecules of ATP for every two molecules of glucose invested. This is the pathway favored by fast replicating cells. In the mitochondrion, the processes of β-oxidation, the citric acid cycle and OXPHOS take place. OXPHOS is favored by cells with complex functions. Two molecules of ATP are generated by the citric acid cycle and 34 molecules are generated by OXPHOS (adapted from reference [20]).