Chapter 7: Cellular Respiration

cellular respiration

the process by which cells release the energy stored within organic molecules and use this energy to synthesize ATP molecules

cellular respiration is an aerobic process

meaning it requires oxygen and releases carbon dioxide

Pathways of Cellular Respiration

allow the energy within a glucose molecule to be released slowly for ATP synthesis

step-by-step breakdown of glucose to CO2 and H2O

produces a maximum yield of 36-38 ATP molecules

cellular respiration pathways

allow the energy within a glucose molecule to be released slowly so the ATP can be produced gradually

NAD+

a coenzyme used in oxidation-reduction reactions

When a metabolite is oxidized,

NAD+ accepts 2 electrons plus a hydrogen ion and NADH results

When NADH passes on electrons,

NAD+ results

FAD

a coenzyme of oxidation reduction

FAD accepts two electrons and two hydrogen ions

FADH2 results

Cellular respiration involves four phases

...

First phase

glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose to 2 molecules of pyruvate

Second phase

During the preparatory reaction, pyruvate is oxidized to a C2 acetyl group carried by CoA and CO2 is removed

Third phase

Krebs/Citric Acid cycle: For glucose, cycle repeats 2x, breakdown of pyruvic which results in carbon dioxide and releases 2 ATPs in this stage

Fourth phase

Membrane bound carriers that transport electrons, produces 32 ATP's

If oxygen is not available to the cell,

fermentation occurs in cytoplasm instead of continued aerobic cellular respiration

Glycolysis

the initial stage of cellular respiration

For each molecule of glucose,

the inputs are 2 ATPs and 2NAD+

The outputs are

2 molecules of pyruvate, 2 NADHs, 2 ADPs and 4 ATPS. There's a net gain of 2 ATPs

complete breakdown of glucose requires

an input of oxygen to keep the electron transport chain working

When FADH2 gives up its electrons to the chain,

it becomes FAD and releases H+ ions

If oxygen is limited,

pyruvate molecules accumulate in the cell and intermediates such as NAD+ and FAD, cannot be recycled

Two basic forms of fermentation

lactic acid and alcohol fermentation

lactic acid fermentation

A series of anaerobic chemical reactions using pyruvic acid that supplies energy when oxygen is scarce

alcholic fermentation

pyruvate is reduced to produce alcohol. NAD+ are regenerated and releases small amounts of CO2

Cristae

structure of a mitochondrion includes folds of an inner membrane

Preparatory (prep) reaction

it produces the molecule that can enter the citric acid cycle

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

- 2 Pyruvates enter the mitochondrion
- releases 2 ATP, 6NADH, and 2 FADH2 for each glucose

electron transport chain

a series of electron proteins carriers that pass electrons from one to the other

When NADH gives up its electron to the chain,

it releases H+ ions and becomes NAD+