Respiration Flashcards
Describe glycolysis (overview)
-occurs in the cytoplasm
-anaerobic process
glucose is split into two, three-carbon pyruvate molecules
-ATP and reduced NAD is also formed
What are the main steps in glycolysis?
1) phosphorylation
2)Lysis
3)Phosphorylation
4) Dehydrogenation and formation of ATP
Describe the first step of glycolysis?
phosphorylation- two phosphates released from two ATP molecules are attached to a glucose molecule forming hexose bisphosphate
What occurs in glycolysis after the formation of hexose bisphosphate?
lysis- molecule destabilises, splitting into two triose phosphate molecules
What occurs in glycolysis after lysis?
phosphorylation- another phosphate group is added to each triose phosphate forming triose bisphosphate molecules. These phosphate groups come from free inorganic phosphate ions present in the cytoplasm
What occurs in glycolysis after the formation of triose bisphosphate?
Dehydrogenation and formation of ATP- two triode bisphosphate molecules are then oxidised by the removal of hydrogen atoms (dehydrogenation) to form two pyruvate molecules. NAD coenzymes accept the removed hydrogens- they are reduced, forming two reduced NAD molecules
what is substrate level phosphorylation?
Formation of ATP without the involvement of an electron transport chain. In glycolysis, ATP is formed by the transfer of a phosphate group from a phosphorylated intermediate (triose bisphosphate) to ADP
What is the overall net ATP yield in glycolysis?
2 as 2 ATP molecules are used in the beginning and 4 ATP molecules are produced
function of outer mitochondrial membrane?
separates contents of mitochondrion from the rest of the cell (compartmentalisation), creating ideal conditions for anaerobic conditions
Function of inner mitochondrial membrane?
contains electron transport chains and ATP synthase
Function of cristae?
projections of inner membrane which increase surface area available for oxidative phosphorylation
Function of the matrix?
contains enzymes for the kerbs cycle and link reaction, also contains mitochondrial DNA
Function of inter membrane space?
Proteins are pumped into this space by the electron transport chain. The space is small so the concentration builds up quickly
Describe oxidative decarboxylation?
-first step in aerobic respiration
-referred as the link reaction as it links anaerobic glycolysis (in the cytoplasm) to the aerobic steps of respiration (occurring in the mitochondria)
In eukaryotic cells, how does pyruvate enter the mitochondrial matrix?
by active transport via specific carrier proteins
How does pyruvate undergo oxidative decarboxylation?
-carbon dioxide is removed (decarboxylation) along with hydrogen (oxidation)
-hydrogen atoms are accepted by NAD forming reduced NAD
-therefore pyruvate converts to acetate (2C)
-acetate combines with coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A (2C)
-Coenzyme A delivers acetyl coA to the next stage of aerobic respiration, known as the kerbs cycle
-The reduced NAD is used in oxidative phosphorylation to synthesise ATP
What will happen with the remaining carbon dioxide formed in decarboxylation?
-carbon dioxide will diffuse away or be removed as metabolic waste
-in autotrophic organisms, it maybe used in photosynthesis
Describe the kerbs cycle (overview)?
-occurs in the mitochondrial matrix
-breakdown of acetyl group
What occurs in the kerbs cycle?
1) two carbon acetyl group combines with four carbon oxaloacetate to form six carbon citrate
2) Citrate molecule undergoes deoxycarboxylation and dehydrogenation producing one reduced NAD and carbon dioxide. A five carbon compound is formed.
3) The five carbon compound under goes further decarboxylation and dehydrogenation reactions, eventually regenerating oxalocetate.
When oxaloacetate is being regenerated from citrate how does substrate level phosphorylation occur?
The hydrogen atoms released are picked up by the coenzymes NAD and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)
What reactions occur in the kerbs cycle are what are the products?
-decarboxylation: carbon dioxide formed
-dehydrogenation
-substrate level phosphorylation: ATP formed
-two more reduced NADs and one reduced FAD is formed
Function of coenzymes in respiration?
-transfer protons, electrons and functional groups between many of these enzyme-catalysed reactions
What are the similarities of the coenzymes FAD and NAD?
both accept protons and electrons
What is the difference between the coenzyme FAD and NAD?
-NAD takes part in all stages of cellular respiration but FAD only accepts hydrogens in the kerbs cycle
-NAD accepts one hydrogen and FAD accepts two hydrogens
-reduced NAD is oxidised at the start of the electron transport chain releasing protons and electrons while reduced FAD is oxidised further along the chain
-reduced NAD results in the synthesis of three ATP molecules but FAD results in the synthesis of two ATP molecules
coenzymes are devoured from?
vitamins
what is chemiosmosis?
net movement of protons down an electrochemical gradient through ATP synthase by diffusion