Respiration Flashcards
What is the purpose of cellular respiration?
Allows energy stored in organic molecules in cells (e.g. glucose) to be released to make ATP, which is then hydrolysed to provide the energy needed for active processes in cells
What is the balanced equation for respiration?
C6H12O6 = 6O2 —> 6CO2 + 6H2O + ENERGY
What is metabolism?
Refers to all of the reactions that occur inside an organism
What are anabolic reactions?
Metabolic reactions that build up large molecules from smaller ones
- Net requirement for energy
What are catabolic reactions?
Metabolic reactions that break down large molecules into smaller ones
Is respiration an anabolic or catabolic reaction?
Catabolic Substrates (usually glucose) are broken down, releasing energy
Why is ATP such a useful immediate source of energy?
- The hydrolysis of ATP releases small quantities of energy, in manageable amounts, to drive single reactions
- This prevents wastage and cell damage
- Single step reaction - a quick and easy way to release energy
What are the 4 stages in aerobic respiration?
1- Glycolysis
2- The link reaction
3- The krebs cycle
4- Oxidative phosphorylation
Where does glycolysis occur?
Cytoplasm
Where do the last 3 stages of aerobic respiration take place?
Mitochondria
Is glycolysis an anaerobic or aerobic process?
Can be both
Describe the steps in glycolysis
- Phosphorylation of glucose, involves 1 ATP molecule, into glucose phosphate (6C)
- Glucose phosphate is phosphorylated into hexose bisphosphate (6C) using 1 ATP
- Hexose bisphosphate splits into 2xTP (hydrolysis)
- 2xTP are oxidised to 2x pyruvate (3C)
- A single TP molecule produces 2xATP and 1xNADH through dehydrogenation
- Dehydrogenation - TP loses H+, NAD coenzymes accept the removed hydrogens - they are reduced, forming 2 NADH
What are the end products of glycolysis?
Net gain of:
- 2 ATP (2 used up, 4 made)
- 2x NADH
- 2x pyruvate
What is NAD?
- Coenzyme
- A non-protein organic molecule which helps the enzymes in the last part of glycolysis to work
What is substrate level phosphorylation?
Formation of ATP without the involvement of an electron transport chain
What is the purpose of phosphorylating glucose?
Makes the original glucose molecule more reactive
How is glycogen converted into glucose molecules?
Breaking 1,4 glycosidic bonds via hydrolysis
Enzymes and water are needed
Where does the link reaction occur?
Mitochondrial matrix
Is the link reaction an aerobic or anaerobic process?
Aerobic
What may happen to the CO2 produced after the link reaction?
- Diffuse away and be removed from organism as metabolic waste
- In autotrophic organisms, it may be used as a raw material in PHS
Describe the steps in the link reaction
- Pyruvate enters matrix by active transport via specific carrier proteins
- Pyruvate is decarboxylated and dehydrogenated to acetyl (2C)
- CO2 is produced as a by-product, NAD is reduced to NADH
- Acetyl combines with Co-A to produce acetyl-coenzyme A
What is the net gain from the link reaction?
- 1 CO2
- 1 NADH
Why does the link reaction happen twice?
2 pyruvate molecules were formed from glycolysis
Where does the kreb’s cycle take place?
Mitochondrial matrix
Describe the steps in the Kreb’s cycle
1- Acetyl group (2c) + oxaloacetate (4c) = citrate (6c)
2- Citrate is decarboxylated + dehydrogenated = 5c compound, 1 CO2 + NADH
3- 5c is decarboxylated & dehydrogenated = 4c compound, 1 CO2 + NADH
4- 4c compound dehydrogenated = NADH + FADH2
5- Regeneration of oxaloacetate
Where do the reduced co-enzymes carry the H atoms to?
Cristae of mitochondria
What step of aerobic respiration happens on the cristae?
Oxidative phosphorylation
What does oxidative phosphorylation mean?
Adding inorganic phosphate (Pi) to ADP in the presence of O2, to make ATP indirectly, via a chain of electron carriers