Selective advantage of aerobic glycolysis over oxidative phosphorylation

Abstract

The utilization of glycolysis in aerobic conditions have been a subject of debate for more than a century. A hypothesis supported by previous data is that glycolysis has a higher rate of ATP production per protein mass and per occupied volume than oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos). However, a recent work by Shen et al14 challenges previous estimates, reporting that OxPhos has a higher rate of ATP production per protein mass than glycolysis. Here I show that Shen et al14 make a key assumption that is a subject of debate: that the proteomic cost of OxPhos is limited to proteins in enzymes of OxPhos and the TCA cycle. I argue that an intact mitochondria is required for functional OxPhos and therefore the whole mitochondrial protein content should be included for the cost estimate of OxPhos. After doing so, glycolysis is the most efficient pathway per protein mass or per volume fraction.