8.2 Cell Respiration Flashcards
What is ATP?
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a high energy molecule that functions as an immediate power source for cells
Where is the energy for ATP stored?
One molecule of ATP contains three covalently bonded phosphate groups – which store potential energy in their bonds
Why is ATP a readily reactive molecule?
Phosphorylation makes molecules less stable and hence ATP is a readily reactive molecule that contains high energy bonds
What happens during ATP hydrolysis?
When ATP is hydrolysed (to form ADP + Pi), the energy stored in the terminal phosphate bond is released for use by the cell
What are the two key functions of ATP?
It functions as the energy currency of the cell by releasing energy when hydrolysed to ADP (powers cell metabolism)
It may transfer the released phosphate group to other organic molecules, rendering them less stable and more reactive
How is ATP synthesised with solar energy?
Solar energy – photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy that is stored as ATP
How is ATP synthesised with oxidative processes?
cell respiration breaks down organic molecules to release chemical energy that is stored as ATP
What is cell respiration?
Cell respiration is the controlled release of energy from organic compounds to produce ATP
What does anaerobic respiration involve?
Anaerobic respiration involves the incomplete breakdown of organic molecules for a small yield of ATP (no oxygen required)
What does aerobic respiration involve?
Aerobic respiration involves the complete breakdown of organic molecules for a larger yield of ATP (oxygen is required)
Why is the breakdown of organic molecules done in steps?
By staggering the breakdown, the energy requirements are reduced (activation energy can be divided across several steps)
The released energy is not lost – it is transferred to activated carrier molecules via redox reactions (oxidation / reduction)
how is chemical energy transferred when organic molecules are broken down?
When organic molecules are broken down by cell respiration, the chemical energy is transferred by means of redox reactions
What is redox?
Redox reactions involved the reduction of one chemical species and the oxidation of another (redox = reduction / oxidation)
what do most redox reactions typically involve the transfer of?
Most redox reactions typically involve the transfer of electrons, hydrogen or oxygen
what is reduction?
Reduction is the gain of electrons / hydrogen or the loss of oxygen
what is oxidation?
Oxidation is the loss of electrons / hydrogen or the gain of oxygen
What does cell respiration transfer?
Cell respiration breaks down organic molecules and transfers hydrogen atoms and electrons to carrier molecules
In respiration, does the organic molecule undergo reduction or oxidation?
As the organic molecule is losing hydrogen atoms and electrons, this is an oxidation reaction
Where is energy stored in the organic molecule transferred to?
Energy stored in the organic molecule is transferred with the protons and electrons to the carrier molecules
What are the carrier molecules called?
The carrier molecules are called hydrogen carriers or electron carriers, as they gain electrons and protons (H+ ions)
What is the most common hydrogen carrier? What happens to it?
The most common hydrogen carrier is NAD+ which is reduced to form NADH
(NAD+ + 2H+ + 2e– → NADH + H+)
What is a less common hydrogen carrier? What happens to it?
A less common hydrogen carrier is FAD which is reduced to form FADH2 (FAD + 2H+ + 2e– → FADH2)
What is the function of hydrogen carriers?
The hydrogen carriers function like taxis, transporting the electrons (and hydrogen ions) to the cristae of the mitochondria
What are the cristae the site of?
The cristae is the site of the electron transport chain, which uses the energy transferred by the carriers to synthesize ATP
What does the ETC need, which makes it only occur in certain conditions?
This process requires oxygen to function, and hence only aerobic respiration can generate ATP from hydrogen carriers
This is why aerobic respiration unlocks more of the energy stored in the organic molecules and produces more ATP
What organic compounds can be used for respiration?
The main organic compound used in cell respiration is carbohydrates (glucose) – although lipids and proteins can be used
WHy are carbohydrates more commonly used in respiration than lipids?
Lipids are not preferentially used as they are harder to transport and digest (although will yield more energy per gram)
WHy are carbohydrates more commonly used in respiration than proteins?
Proteins are not preferentially used as they release potentially toxic nitrogenous compounds when broken down
What is the first stage of respiration?
The first step in the controlled breakdown of carbohydrates is glycolysis, which occurs in the cytosol of the cell
What is the general overview of glycolysis?
In glycolysis, a hexose sugar (6C) is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate (3C)
What are the 4 key events of glycolysis?
- phosphorylation
- lysis
- oxidation
- atp formation
- what is phosphorylated in glycolysis?
A hexose sugar (typically glucose) is phosphorylated by two molecules of ATP (to form a hexose bisphosphate)
- What is the role of phosphorylation in glycolysis?
This phosphorylation makes the molecule less stable and more reactive, and also prevents diffusion out of the cell
- What happens in lysis?
glycolysis
The hexose biphosphate (6C sugar) is split into two triose phosphates (3C sugars)
- What is oxidised in glycolysis? What is in term reduced?
Hydrogen atoms are removed from each of the 3C sugars (via oxidation) to reduce NAD+ to NADH (+ H+)
- what is formed in oxidation?
glycolysis
Two molecules of NADH are produced in total (one from each 3C sugar)
- What type of phosphorylation is in glycolysis?
Some of the energy released from the sugar intermediates is used to directly synthesise ATP
This direct synthesis of ATP is called substrate level phosphorylation
- How many ATP molecules are produced by glycolysis?
In total, 4 molecules of ATP are generated during glycolysis by substrate level phosphorylation (2 ATP per 3C sugar)
What has glucose been broken down into via glycolysis?
Glucose (6C) has been broken down into two molecules of pyruvate (3C)
What has been reduced in glycolysis?
Two hydrogen carriers have been reduced via oxidation (2 × NADH + H+)
What is the net total of ATP molecules produced?
A net total of two ATP molecules have been produced (4 molecules were generated, but 2 were used)
Where does glycolysis occur? Is it anaerobic or aerobic?
Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol and does not require oxygen (it is an anaerobic process)
What may cause the products fo glycolysis to differ?
Depending on the availability of oxygen, the pyruvate may be subjected to one of two alternative processes:
What does aerobic respirationrespiration produce?
Aerobic respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen and results in the further production of ATP (~ 34 molecules)
What does anaerobic glycolysis produce?
Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) occurs in the absence of oxygen and no further ATP is produced
What happens to pyruvate in aerobic conditions?
If oxygen is present, the pyruvate is transported to the mitochondria for further breakdown (complete oxidation)
What does the oxidtaon of pyruvate form?
This further oxidation generates large numbers of reduced hydrogen carriers (NADH + H+ and FADH2)
What is the role of the reduced hydrogen carriers in the presence of oxygen?
In the presence of oxygen, the reduced hydrogen carriers can release their stored energy to synthesise more ATP
What 3 stages does aerobic respiration involve
Aerobic respiration involves three additional processes – the link reaction, krebs cycle and the electron transport chain
- What is pyruvate broken down into in anaerobic conditions?
If oxygen is not present, pyruvate is not broken down further and no more ATP is produced (incomplete oxidation)
- Where does pyruvate remain in anaerobic conditions and what happens to it?
The pyruvate remains in the cytosol and is converted into lactic acid (animals) or ethanol and CO2 (plants and yeast)
- Is the conversion of pyruvate into lactic acid or ethanol irreversible?
This conversion is reversible and is necessary to ensure that glycolysis can continue to produce small quantities of ATP
- What does glycolysis involve in terms of redox?
Glycolysis involves oxidation reactions that cause hydrogen carriers (NAD+) to be reduced (becomes NADH + H+)
- What happens to reduced hydrogen carriers?
Typically, the reduced hydrogen carriers are oxidised via aerobic respiration to restore available stocks of NAD+