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Cellular Respiration

Terms in this set (22)

glycolysis
first step in releasing the energy of glucose, in which a molecule of glucose is broken into two molecules of pyruvate. Occurs in ALL living cells. Requires multiple steps. Occurs in the cytoplasm
citric acid cycle
Completely oxidizes carbons and transfers the freed electrons to electron carriers such as NAD+ and FADH+. This processes releases carbon dioxide as a waste product.
Occurs in the mitochondrion.
Only occurs if oxygen is present. Its purpose is to collect the electrons from the carbons and transport them to the electron transport chain.
Electron Transport Chain (ETC)
sequence of electron carrier molecules on the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons down to oxygen. This electron movement powers the active pumping of H+ ions across the inner mitochondrial membrane. At the end of the chain, the H+ ions are allowed to rush back across the membrane. The enzyme motor channel, ATP synthase, uses this movement to add phosphates to ADP and form lots of ATP.
How does water form during cellular respiration?
H+ is added to oxygen as it accepts the electrons that flowed down the chain.
reactive oxygen species (oxygen free radicals)
Highly reactive forms of oxygen (because they contain an odd number of electrons). They are byproducts of cellular metabolic processes.
lactic acid fermentation
In human cells, if there is no oxygen available, pyruvate can be converted into lactate instead of acetyl CoA. Many bacteria use fermentation to produce lactic acid, which gives fermented foods their sour flavor.
alcoholic fermentation
the anaerobic process by which yeasts converts pyruvate into ethanol. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most famous of these.
preferred fuel of heart muscle
fatty acids or ketones
Red blood cells lack mitochondria. How do they make ATP?
exclusively through glycolysis
anaerobic respiration
Producing ATP without oxygen. It EITHER means that the organism only relies on glycolysis OR that it does have an electron transport chain, but it has nitrate or sulfur at the end of the chain to accept electrons.
What are the three stages of cellular respiration?
1. glycolysis
2. the citric acid cycle (AKA Krebs or TCA cycle)
3. Electron Transport Chain (AKA oxidative phosphorylation)
NAD+/NADH
(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) electron carrier that picks up electrons/hydrogens (is REDUCED) during the citric acid cycle and then drops them off (is OXIDIZED) at the electron transport chain.
Purpose of the electron transport chain
1. passes electrons to the final electron acceptor (oxygen)
2. pumps protons (H+) out of the inner mitochondrial matrix, building up a gradient so that the protons want to flow through ATP synthase back into the matrix.
Purpose of the citric acid cycle
breaks off all the carbons of the original fuel source (glucose, fatty acids, or amino acids), and puts them on the electron transporters (NAD+/NADH)
Purpose of glycolysis
break down glucose into pyruvate and make some ATP
purpose of breathing
**get rid of CO2 generated during citric acid cycle
**get in O2 needed in the electron transport chain
purpose of eating
**get fuel for the ATP production
**get vitamins and minerals that are important raw materials for reactions in the body or structural support
ATP Synthase
Large protein that uses energy from flowing H+ ions to produce ATP
Cellular location of glycolysis
cytoplasm is the site of this process
Cellular location of Citric acid cycle
this process occurs in the mitochondrial matrix of the cell, in the presence of oxygen. (produces carbon dioxide waste)
cellular location of the electron transport chain
inner mitochondrial membrane
fuel source for the citric acid cycle must include this atom
carbon is the necessary fuel for ATP production
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