Respiration Flashcards
Which Pi releases energy?
When the 3rd phosphate group detaches.
What do we need energy for?
Metabolism; movement; active transport; maintenance, repair and division; production of substances; homeostasis; activation of molecules.
What is the energy currency in cells?
ATP - adenosine triphosphate
What is the energy from respiration used for?
To synthesise more ATP.
Structure of ATP
Ribose sugar, adenine base, a phosphate group.
How are bonds broken in ATP?
Bonds are broken by ATPase and when broken, it releases large amounts of energy.
Equation for phosphorylation
ATP + H2O = ADP + Pi + Energy
Continual process and some body parts require more ATP.
Why is energy released?
Due to the resynthesis of ATP
The equation for respiration
C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O
How are the phosphates detached?
Via a hydrolysis reaction - addition of water to break molecules down.
Why is ATP used to release energy instead of glucose?
The energy from ATP can be released more quickly in a simple hydrolysis reaction.
A smaller amount is closer to the amount required in cellular reactions.
Larger amounts of energy released would be more difficult to control.
The molecule’s easily moved around the cell but can’t leave the cell.
Phosphorylation
The addition of a phosphate
Metabolic processes
Building macromolecules such as proteins and polysaccharides.
Movement
Provides energy for muscle contraction.
Active Transport
Carrier proteins need the energy to change shape in the plasma membrane.
Activation in molecules
Allows enzyme catalysed reactions to occur more easily.
Coenzymes
Molecules that bind with a specific enzyme or substrate, helping to catalyse a reaction.
Breaking the bonds between coenzyme and product after a reaction is…
Crucial, otherwise coenzyme concentration will drop, limiting respiratory rate.
3 major coenzymes
NAD - nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
CoA - Coenzyme A
FAD - flavine adenine dinucleotide
NAD
Accepts a hydrogen molecule, forming reduced NAD (NADH).
Used to regenerate ADP in the electron transport chain (ETC).
Coenzyme A
Aids the transition between glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, by converting pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A.
FAD
Can accept hydrogen to form reduced FAD (FADH2).
Where does respiration occur?
Occurs in all living cells.
In eukaryotes, early stages of respiration occur in the cytoplasm.
The later stages are restricted to the mitochondria.
What does mitochondria possess?
Highly folded inner membranes; provision of an isolated optimum; have their own DNA and ribosomes.
Effect of highly folded inner membranes
Holds key respiratory proteins (includes the enzyme that makes ATP) over a large surface area.
Effect of provision of an isolated optimum
Maintains optimum conditions for respiration.
Effect of having own DNA and ribosomes
Can manufacture their own respiratory enzymes.
Describe how ATP acts as a supplier of energy to power metabolic reactions.
Hydrolysis of ATP to ADP + Pi
Name the immediate source of energy used to reform ATP from ADP molecules.
Glucose
Process of re-energising ADP into ATP molecules.
Phosphorylation
Explain in what way the ATP/ADP system can be likened to a rechargeable battery.
Alternates between high energy and low energy. The addition of phosphates recharges the ADP for cellular work.
Aerobic respiration.
Requires oxygen and produces carbon dioxide, water, and much ATP.