Chapter 8: Cellular Respiration

NAD+

(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) a coenzyme of oxidation reduction sometimes called a redox coenzyme; when a metabolite is oxidized, this accepts two electrons, plus a hydrogen ion and ---H results

acetyl CoA

Molecule made up of a 2-carbon acetyl group attatched to coenzyme A. During cellular respiration, this group enters the citric acid cycle for further breakdown.

Citric acid cycle

This is a cyclical series of oxidation reactions in the matrix of the mitochondria that results in NADH and FADH2; Carbon dioxide is given off and 1 ATP is produced; this turns twice because 2 acetyl CoA molecules enter the cycle per glucose molecule (also called the Krebs Cycle)

electron transport chain

This is a series of carriers in the inner mitochondrial membrane that accepts the electrons removed from the glucose and pass them along from one carrier to the next until they are finally received by O2, which combines with hydrogen ions and becomes water.

Cellular respiration

a cellular process that require oxygen and gives off carbon dioxide; involves the complete breakdown of glucose to carbon dioxide and water

FAD

a coenzyme of oxidation-reduction that is sometimes used instead of NAD+; accepts 2 electrons and 2 hydrogen ions to become ---H2

Pyruvate

a pivotal metabolite in cellular respiration; end product of glycolosis

chemiosmosis

ability of certain membranes to use a hydrogen ion gradient to drive ATP formation

oxygen debt

amount of oxygen required to oxidize lactic acid produced anaerobically during strenuous muscle activity

fermentation

anaerobic breakdown of glucose that results in a gain of 2 ATP and end products such as alchohol and lactate

cytochrome

any of several iron-containing protein molecules that serve as electron carriers in photosynthesis and cellular respiration

glycolosis

during this, glucose is broken down in the cytoplasm of two molecules of pyruvate; the breakdown of glucose to two pyruvate molecules

Prep reaction

during this, pyruvate enters a mitochondria and is oxidized to a two-carbon acetyl group carried by CoA; NADH is formed; the waste product, carbon dioxide, is removed; occurs 2x per glucose molecule

alcoholic fermentation

fermentation that produces ethanol and CO2 from sugars

C6H12O6 + 6O2 = 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy

formula of cellular respiration

anaerobic

glycolosis is this, because it does not require the presence of oxygen

anabolism

metabolic process by which larger molecules are synthesized from smaller ones

catabolism

metabolic process that breaks down large molecules into smaller ones

metabolic pool

metabolites that are the products of and/or the substrates for key reactions in cells, allowing one type of molecule to be changed into another type, such as carbohydrates converted to fats.

oxidative phosphorylation

process by which ATP production is tied to an electron transport system that uses oxygen as the final acceptor; occurs in the mitochondria

deamination

removal of an amino group from an amoni acid or any other organic compound

lactic acid fermentation

the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates that produces lactic acid as the main end product

glucose and carbon dioxide

two parts of cellular respiration that are oxidized

oxygen and water

two parts of cellular respiration that are reduced