Respiration Flashcards
Define tissue/ cell respiration
This is a process by which organic food materials are broken down in a cell to release energy in the form of ATP.
Describe the structure of ATP
ATP is a molecule made up of a nitrogen base; adenine, a ribose sugar and three phosphate groups.
Adenine is attached to carbon 1 of ribose sugar while the chain of phosphate groups is attached to carbon 5 of ribose.
True or false;
More energy is obtained from the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and ADP to AMP than from hydrolysis of AMP.
True
This explains why hydrolysis of AMP to release energy isn’t feasible.
By what process is ATP formed;
Phosphorylation; in which a phosphate is added to ADP.
Explain the three types of phosphorylation
i. Substrate level phosphorylation:
This involves the transfer of phosphate group directly from a high energy compound to ADP to form ATP.
Examples of high energy compounds include 1, 3- bisphosphoglycerate
ii. Oxidative phosphorylation:
This is the process of ATP synthesis using energy from oxidation of compounds such as NADH and FADH2
iii. Photophosphorylation:
This is the process by which ATP synthesis takes place in a cell using energy from light.
E.g. during photosynthesis.
Why is ATP is preferred to other high energy compounds to provide energy for cell metabolism?
- Provides the right amount of energy for cellular needs when hydrolyzed
- ATP can be moved to any place when need arises
- Is easily hydrolyzed to provide energy at the right time.
State uses of ATP
- Provides phosphates for phosphorylation
- Stores energy
Give the uses of energy from ATP in cells
- Enables loading and unloading of sugars in plants
- Enables translocation of organic food materials in phloem of plants
- Enables movement of cilia and flagella
- Enables contraction of muscles
- Enables active transport of molecules across cell membrane
- Used for synthesis of compounds and structures e.g. DNA and protein synthesis
- For activation of chemical compounds, to make them more reactive. E.g. phosphorylation of glucose during glycolysis
- For Contraction of microfilaments during cell division
- Powers movement of a sperm cell toward the secondary oocyte
- Transmission of nerve impulses
- For secretion of substances such as hormones that are formed in cells
Where does respiration occur in prokaryotic cells?
- Cytoplasm, mesosome
Where does respiration occur in eukaryotic cells?
- Cytoplasm, mitochondrion
What are the three stages of cellular respiration, their sites of occurrence and their conditions?
- Glycolysis
Occurs in the cytoplasm
Anaerobic conditions - Krebs cycle/ tricarboxylic acid cycle
Occurs in the mitochondrial matrix
Aerobic conditions - Electron transport chain
Occurs in the cristae of the mitochondrion
Aerobic conditions
Define glycolysis
- This is a series of enzyme controlled reactions that involve the splitting of a single glucose molecule to form two molecules of pyruvate with release of two ATP molecules
Describe the process of glycolysis
- Glucose; phosphorylated to form glucose-6-phosphate to raise its energy level and prevent it from leaving the cell. Reaction is catalyzed by the a kinase enzyme.
- The glucose-6-phosphate; isomerized to form fructose-6-phosphate. Reaction catalyzed by isomerase enzyme.
- Fructose-6-phosphate; phosphorylated to form fructose-1, 6- bisphophate. Reaction catalyzed by enzyme kinase.
- The fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate is unstable and splits to form two 3 carbon compounds which are isomers; dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Reaction is catalyzed by enzyme aldolase.
- Dihydroxyacetone phosphate; isomerized to glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate. The reaction is catalyzed by enzyme isomerase.
- Thus, each glucose molecule is cleaved to form 2 molecules of three carbon compound glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate.
- Each of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate is oxidized by oxidized Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and then phosphorylated to to form 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Reaction catalyzed by kinase enzyme.
- Two molecules of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH+H+) are formed. Reaction is catalyzed by dehydrogenase enzyme
- Each molecule of 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate is used to from an ATP molecule during substrate level phosphorylation of ADP.
- Two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA) are formed. Reaction is catalyzed by phosphoglycerokinase enzyme.
- Each of the PGA molecules isomerizes to form 2-phosphoglycerate.
- The molecules now lose a water molecule under catalysis of enzyme enolase to form 2 molecules of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)
- A phosphate group is transferred from each of the PEP molecules to ADP, forming 2 molecules of ATP, during substrate level phosphorylation.
- Two molecules of pyruvate are formed. Reaction is catalyzed by pyruvate kinase enzyme.
What is the significance of glycolysis?
- Formation of ATP used to power cell activities
- Formation of (NADH+H+) from which more energy is extracted during the electron transport system
- Formation of pyruvate from which more energy can be extracted either in aerobic conditions or anaerobic conditions during Krebs cycle.
Describe the Krebs Cycle
•During aerobic conditions, pyruvic acid is transported across the mitochondrial membrane into the matrix where it is decarboxylated.
• First, the pyruvate is decarboxylated and then oxidized to form acetate, carbon dioxide and (NADH+H+).
• The acetate combines with coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A, making the acetyl group very reactive.
• Acetyl coenzyme A now joins the Krebs cycle where it is further oxidized to release more energy.
• In the Krebs cycle, acetyl CoA reacts with oxaloacetate a 4C compound to form citrate, a 6C compound.
• Coenzyme A is reformed and may be used to combine with another acetate molecule from pyruvate.
• Citrate isomerises to form isocitrate, a more reactive molecule by addition and removal of a water molecule.
• The isocitrate is oxidized by (NAD+) to (NADH+H+) and then decarboxylated by loss of carbon dioxide to form α-ketoglutarate
• The α-ketoglutarate loses a carbon dioxide molecule and oxidized by (NAD+), the remaining product reacts with coenzyme A to form a 4C compound, succinyl CoA, which is unstable.
• The CoA is displaced, ATP is formed and a more stable 4C compound, succinate forms.
• The succinate is oxidized by removal of two hydrogen atoms by (Flavine adenine dinucleotide) FAD, to form FADH2. Fumarate is formed.
• Addition of a water molecule to the fumarate results into formation of malate, a 4C compound.
• Malate is oxidized by NAD+ to regenerate oxaloacetate. (NADH+H+) is also formed
How many NADH molecules are formed from the Krebs Cycle per pyruvate molecule?
3
How many FADH2 molecules are formed from the Krebs Cycle per pyruvate molecule?
1
