Cellular Respiration & Metabolism Flashcards
Define metabolism
all of an organism’s chemical reactions
What is the purpose of metabolism?
Manages material and energy resources
What is a metabolic pathway?
A series of reactions to produce products, each step is catalyzed by different enzymes
What are the two kinds of metabolic pathways?
- catabolic
2. anabolic
Define catabolic pathways and provide an example
exergonic reactions that break down of complex molecules to simpler ones
releases energy
ex. cellular respiration
T or F: catabolic pathways are endergonic/endothermic. Why/why not?
FALSE.
Catabolic pathways are EXOthermic/Exergonic because they release energy
Define anabolic pathways and provide an example
Endergonic reactions that build complex molecules from simpler ones
Requires an energy input/consumes energy
ex. fatty acid or protein synthesis
Describe photosynthesis and provide the general chemical formula
A reaction that consumes energy from sunlight and converts it into chemical energy and is stored in organic compounds
6CO2 + 6H2O + light –> C6H12O6 (glucose) + O2
Define cellular respiration and provide the general formula
The break down of organic molecules in order to produce ATP and energy
C6H12O6 + O2 –> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (ATP + heat)
Describe ATP
Adenosine triphosphate is an energy source that powers cellular work to keep organisms alive
Function:
- mediates most energy coupling in the cells
- an immediate source of energy for cells
- acts as a nucleoside triphosphate in the synthesis of RNA
What is ATP composed of?
a ribose (sugar), adenine (nitrogenous base), and a chain of three negatively charged phosphate groups
What are three kinds of cellular work that ATP is involved in?
- chemical work (endothermic reactions)
- Transport work (active transport)
- mechanical work (movement of cells or cell parts)
How are the bonds between phosphate groups in ATP broken? And what is formed when this occurs?
The weak bonds between phosphate groups are broken by hydrolysis in an exergonic reaction causing…
ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and an inorganic phosphate to form and release significant energy
What happens to the inorganic phosphate that detaches from ATP when ADP is formed?
It is transferred to a reactant or transport protein
Cellular respiration is key in recycling which two molecules back into ATP?
recycling ADP and inorganic phosphate
Describe redox reactions
chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons between an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent
Which kind of reactions (exo or endo) undergo redox reactions?
Exothermic reactions yield energy because of the transfer of electrons (this energy is then used to synthesize ATP)
Describe reduction reactions
Reduction is the GAINING of electrons (element becomes MORE negative)
Describe oxidation reactions
Oxidation is the LOSS of electrons (element becomes LESS negative)
Describe reducing agent
The element/molecule that oxidizes (becomes less negative) because it has donated an electron and has reduced the other element/molecule
Describe oxidizing agent
The element/molecule that is reduced (becomes more negative) because it has gained an electron by oxidizing the other molecule/element
What is a trick to remember redox
OILRIG
Oxidation is LOSS
Reduction is GAIN
In this example, which element is the reducing agent and which is the oxidizing agent:
Xe- + Y –> X + Ye-
X is oxidized (becomes less negative) so it is the reducing agent
Y is reduced (becomes more negative) so it is the oxidizing agent
T or F: Oxidation can occur without oxygen being present
TRUE
Why is oxygen such a strong oxidizing agent?
Because it is highly electronegative so it can easily strip electrons from other elements/molecules
How are redox reactions involved in cellular respiration?
Glucose and other food molecules are OXIDIZED (lose e-)
Oxygen (present in aerobic cellular respiration) REDUCES (gains the e-)
electrons are transferred from glucose to oxygen through a series of steps that involve redox reactions
Why are electrons passed from glucose to oxygen through a series of steps rather than just in one step?
So that the harvest of energy will be more efficient. If electrons were transferred directly to oxygen in one step there would be a huge explosion and waste of energy
T or F: each step between glucose and oxygen is catalyzed by an enzyme?
True
T or F: Electrons are transferred indirectly between glucose and oxygen along with a hydrogen proton?
True
Which enzymes are involved with the transfer of electrons?
- NAD+
- Dehydrogenase
Describe NAD+
A coenzyme that acts as an electron carrier to transport electrons from glucose to the electron transport chain
Describe dehydrogenase
An enzyme that oxidizes the substrate by removing 2e- and 2 H+ and reduces NAD+ to NADH by giving it 2e- and 1 H+
T or F: electrons lose a ton of energy when they are transferred from the substrate to NAD+
FALSE, they lose very little energy because NAD+ is a very efficient electron carrier
Through which mechanism do electrons travel to reach O2?
The Electron Transport Chain (ETC)
What are the 4 major steps of cellular respiration? Where does each step occur?
- Glycolysis
- occurs in the cytosol - Pyruvate oxidation
- occurs in the matrix of the mitochondria of eukaryotes
- cytosol of prokaryotes - Citric Acid Cycle (CAC)
- occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotes
- cytosol of prokaryotes - Oxidative phosphorylation
- occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotes
- plasma membrane of prokaryotes
What are the two ways cellular respiration makes ATP?
- Substrate level phosphorylation
2. Oxidative phosphorylation