Respiration Flashcards

1
Q

Need for respiration?

A

Transport substances across membranes
E.g active raw port of sodium potassium pump in cell membranes
Anabolic reactions
E.g synthesis of DNA from nucleotides
Sysnthesis of proteins from amino acids
Movement
E.g Cellular movement of chromosomes via spindle
Contraction of muscles
Maintain body temp

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2
Q

What is respiration?

A

Release energy from breakdown of organic molecules
- involves transfer of chemical potential energy from nutrient molecules into a USABLE ENERGY form that can be used for work within organism

Glucose + oxygen —> CO2 + H2O + energy

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3
Q

Function/structure of mitochondrion?

A

Function: Site of aerobic respiration in eukaryotic cells - synthesis ATP
Structure: Rod-shaped organelles , 0.5 -1.0 µm diameter
2 phospholipid membranes:
OUTER membrane is SMOOTH/PERMEABLE
INNER membrane is folded (cristae), less permeable, site of ETC , location of ATP synthase enzymes
Inter membrane space : low pH due to high conc of protons
Matrix: aqueous solution within inner membranes of mitochondrion - contain ribosomes, enzymes, circular mitochondrial DNA

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4
Q

How does mitochondrial structure help its function?

A

Large SA due to cristae —> allows membrane to hold many ETC proteins / ATP synthase enzymes —> MORE ATP PRODUCED
- more cell types can have larger mitochondria with longer/tightly packed cristae enabling synthesis of more ATP

No. Mitochondria each cell has varies depending on cell activity - muscle cells with have many

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5
Q

What is aerobic respiration and the 4 stages?

A

Process of breaking down a respiratory substrate (e.g glucose) to produce ATP using oxygen

  1. GLYCOLYSIS (phosphorylation/splitting of glucose) - cytoplasm
  2. LINK REACTION (decarboxylation/dehydrogenation of pyruvate)- matrix of mitochondria
  3. KREBS CYCLE (cyclical pathway with enzyme controlled reactions)- matrix of mitochondria
  4. OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION (production of ATP through oxidation of hydrogen atoms)- inner membrane of mitochondria
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6
Q

Stage 1: glycolysis ?

A

PHOSPHORYLATION: glucose (6C) phorphorylated by 2 ATP forming FRUCTOSE BISPHOSPHATE (6C)
Glucose + 2ATP → Fructose bisphosphate

LYSIS: fructose bisphosphate (6C) split into 2 molecule of TRIOSE PHOSPHATE (3C)

OXIDATION: hydrogen removed from each TP and transferred to con enzyme NAD to form 2 reduced NAD
4H + 2NAD → 2NADH + 2H+

DEPHOSPHORYLATION: phosphates transferred from intermediate substrate molecules to from 4ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation
4Pi + 4ADP → 4ATP

PYRUVATE PRODUCED
2 Triose phosphate → 2 Pyruvate

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7
Q

Products of glycolysis?

A

2 pyruvate molecules - goes to Link reaction
Net gain 2 ATP (4 made, 2 used at start)
2 NADH - goes to oxidative phosphorylation resction

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8
Q

Stage 2: link reaction?

A

When O2 available, pyruvate move across double membrane of mitochondria into matrix via active transport - REQUIRES TRANSPORT PROTEIN/ATP

Pyruvate OXIDISED by enzymes —> ACETATE and CO2 (require reduction of NAD TO NADH + H+)
In Combination with COENZYME A —> ACETYL COENZYME A (acetyl CoA)

(2)pyruvate + (2)NAD + (2)CoA → (2)acetyl CoA + (2)carbon dioxide + (2)reduced NAD
REACTION OCCURS TWICE AS 2 PYRUVATE MOLECULES MADE PER GLUCOSE IN GLYCOLYSIS

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9
Q

Role of CoA?

A

Coenzymes are molecules that help enzymes carry out its function, but not used in reaction itself
CoA consists of a NUCLEOSIDE (ribose and adenine) and a vitamin

CoA binds to remainder of pyruvate molecule to from acetyl CoA - supplies acetyl group to KREBS cycle

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10
Q

How many pyruvate molecules made per glucose molecule in glycolysis?

A

2

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11
Q

Stage 3: KREBS Cycle?

A

Consists of series of enzyme controlled reactions
1. Acetyl CoA (2C) enter circular pathway from link reaction in glucose metabolism
(if acetyl CoA formed from fatty acids/amino acids , enters KREBS cycle from other metabolic pathway)
2. 4C oxaloacetate accepts 2C acetyl fragment from acetyl CoA —> 6C citrate (Coenzyme A released/reused in link reaction)
3. Citrate converted back to oxaloacetate through series of redox reactions

REACTION OCCURS TWICE AS 2 PYRUVATE MOLECULES MADE PER GLUCOSE IN GLYCOLYSIS

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12
Q

How is oxaloacetate regenerated in KREBS cycle?

A

Series of redox reactions:

DECARBOXYLATION of citrate - release 2CO2
OXIDATION (dehydrogenation) of citrate - release H atoms that reduce coenzymes NAD and FAD
8H + 3NAD + FAD → 3NADH + 3H+ + FADH2
SUBSTRATE LEVEL PHOSPHORYLATION:phosphate transferred from an intermediate to ADP —> 1 ATP

REACTION OCCURS TWICE AS 2 PYRUVATE MOLECULES MADE PER GLUCOSE IN GLYCOLYSIS
Products per glucose molecule:
6NADH , 2FADH2 , 2ATP, 4CO2

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13
Q

Role of coenzymes NAD and FAD?

A

HYDROGEN CARRIERS in aerobic respiration
NAD /FAD are reduced when GAIN HYDROGEN
Oxidised when LOSE HYDROGEN

They transfer hydrogen atoms from different stages of respiration to ETC on inner mitochondrial membrane

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14
Q

How are hydrogen ions and electrons important in ETC to synthesis ATP?

A

Electrons from reduced NAD (NADH) and reduced FAD (FADH2) given to electron transport chain
Hydrogen ions from NADH and FADH2 are released too.
ETC drives movement of hydrogen ions( PROTONS) across inner mitochondrial membrane —> INTERMEMBRANE space - create PROTONS GRAD

Movement of hydrogen ions down proton grad into mitochondrial matrix , gives energy required for ATP synthesis

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15
Q

Source of NADH AND FADH2 ?

A

NADH : 2 from glycolysis
2 from link reaction
6 from KREBS cycle

FADH2: 2 from KREBS cycle

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16
Q

Stage 3: Oxidative phosphorylation & ATP synthesis ?

A

Takes place in inner mitochondrial membrane - CHEMIOSMOTIC THEORY

  1. H atoms donated by NADH and FADH2 from Krebs Cycle
  2. Hydrogen atoms split into protons (H+ ions) and electrons
  3. The high energy electrons enter ETC and release energy as they move through ETC
  4. The released energy used to transport protons from matrix across the inner mitochondrial membrane —> intermembrane space
  5. conc gradient of protons made between intermembrane space and the matrix
  6. The protons return to the matrix via facilitated diffusion through channel protein ATP synthase
  7. The movement of protons down their concentration gradient provides energy for ATP synthesis - allows phosphorylation of ADP —> ATP by atp synthase
  8. Oxygen acts as the ‘final electron acceptor’ and combines with PROTONS + ELECTRONS at end of ETC —> form water
17
Q

What is the ETC made up of and why is it needed?

A

Made up of a series of membrane proteins/electron carriers

positioned close together —> allows electrons to pass from carrier to carrier
The inner membrane of the mitochondria is impermeable to H+ ions
- so electron carriers needed to pump the protons across the membrane to establish the concentration gradient

18
Q

Why is oxygen so important for arerobic respiration?

A

Acts as final electron acceptor
- without oxygen accepting electrons/hydrogens, NADH and FADH2 not oxidised to regenerate NAD AND FAD
- therefore cannot be used in further hydrogen transport

19
Q

Consequences of not enough oxygen for respiration?

A

No final acceptor of electrons from ETC
- ETC stops functioning
- no more ATP produced via oxidative phosphorylation
- NADH AND FADH2 not oxidised by electron carrier
- no NAD or FAD available for dehydorgenation in KREBS CYCLE
- KREBS CYCLE STOPS

20
Q

Anaerobic pathways?

A

Some cells can OXIDISE NADH produced in glycolysis to be used for FURTHER HYDROGEN TRANSPORT
- means glycolysis can continue/small amounts of ATP produced
To achieve this:
Yeast/microorganims use ETHANOL FERMENTATION
Other microorganisms/mammalian muscle cells use LACTATE FERMENTATION

21
Q

Ethanol fermentation process?

A

NADH transfers its hydrogens to ETHANAL to form ETHANOL

  1. Pyruvate is decarboxylated to ethanal - producing CO2
  2. Ethanal reduced to ethanol by enzyme ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE - alcohol is waste product as cannot be further metabolised
    (Ethanal is a hydrogen acceptor)
22
Q

Lactate fermentation process?

A

NADH transfers its hydrogens to pyruvate to form LACTATE
1. Pyruvate is reduced to LACTATE by enzyme lactate dehydrogenase - lactate can be further metabolised
(Pyruvate is hydrogen acceptor)

23
Q

How can lactate be metabolised further?

A
  1. It can be oxidised back into pyruvate which is channeled into KREBS cycle for ATP production
  2. Can be converted into glycogen for storage in liver

OXIDATION OF LACTATE to pyruvate needs extra O2 - OXYGEN DEBT

24
Q

Which type of respiration has greater energy yield and why?

A

Aerobic respiration
- in anaerobic: glucose partially oxidised so only some of its chemical potential energy released and transferred to ATP - only ATP producing reaction that continues is GLYCOLYSIS
- as there is no oxygen to act as final electron acceptor , no reactions within mitochondria can take place (stages in mitochondria produce much more ATP than glycolysis alone)

25
Q

Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration ?

A

AEROBIC VS ANAEROBIC
Stages: GLYCOLYSIS, LINK REACTION, KREBS, OXIDATIVE PHOPSHORYLATION VS glycolysis +fermentation
Oxidation of glucose: complete vs incomplete
Total ATP produced: high (36) VS low(2)
Location : cytoplasm + mctochdria VS cytoplasm
Products: CO2, H2O VS YEAST: CO2/ethanol MAMMALS: lactate

26
Q

Types of respiratory substrates?

A

GLUCOSE is main
But when used up:
Other carbohydrates, lipids, proteins CAN BE USED as respiratory substrates

27
Q

Why are amino acids only respired aerboically when all other substrates are used up?

A

Have essential functions elsewhere in cell
- needed to make proteins which have functional/strcutural roles

28
Q

Why do different substrates release different amount of energy when broken down?

A

Lipids (39.4 kJ g-1) followed by proteins (17.0 kJ g-1) and then carbohydrates (15.8 kJ g-1)

-depends on how many H atoms become available when substrate molecules broken down
- molecule with a higher hydrogen content —> greater proton gradient across the mitochondrial membrane —> more formation of ATP via chemiosmosis

Fatty acids have a lot of hydrogen atoms!!

29
Q

What is RQ?

A

Respiratory quotient
Ratio of CO2 molecules produced to oxygen molecules taken in during respiration

RQ= moles/ molecules CO2 produced/ moles/molecules O2 consumed

30
Q

Why are RQ values different for different respiratory substrates?

A

No. Carbon-hydrogen bonds difffers
- more C-H bonds —> more H atoms for PROTON GRAD —> more ATP molecules produced —> more O2 needed to breakdown molecule (in last step of oxidative phosphorylation to form water)

31
Q

What is the RQ for anaerobic respiration ?

A

RQ cannot be calculated for anaerobic respiration in muscle cells bc NO OXYGEN USED + NO CO2 PRODUCED during lactate fermentation
For yeast cells, RQ tends towards infinity as NO O2 used , but CO2 is still produced in ethanol fermentation