Concept 7.1 - Catabolic pathways yield energy by oxidzing organic fuels

What do catabolic pathways release and how do they do that?

Releases stored energy by breaking down complex molecules

What needs to be transferred that is crucial for catabolic pathways?

Electron transfer from fuel molecules (e.g., glucose) to other molecules

To what kind of process are catabolic pathways and electron transfers central to?

Cellular respiration

What kind of energy do organic compounds have and why?

Potential energy, due to the arrangement of electrons in their bonds

What role do compounds take on in exergonic reactions?

Act as fuels

What do cells do in catabolic processes? What does this release?

They degrade complex organic molecules into simpler waste products, releasing energy

What is fermentation?

A catabolic process that partially degrades sugars without using oxygen

What is aerobic respiration? What is it most carried out by?

The most efficient catabolic pathway, consuming oxygen along with organic fuel. It is carried out by most eukaryotic and many prokaryotic cells.

What is anaerobic respiration?

Similar to aerobic respiration but uses substances other than oxygen to harvest chemical energy.

What does cellular respiration include?

Includes both aerobic and anaerobic processes but often refers to the aerobic process.

What biomolecules are used as fuel sources?

Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins can be used as fuel. Starch is a major carbohydrate source, broken down into glucose

What is released during the transfer of electrons in chemical reactions, and what is it used for to synthesize?

Energy, ATP

What do redox reactions involve?

Involve the transfer of electrons between substances

What is oxidation as a redox reaction?

The loss of electrons

What is reduction as a redox reaction?

The gain of electrons

What kind of agent is the electron donor?

Reducing agent

What kind of agent is the electron acceptor?

Oxidizing agent

What is methane combustion?

An example of a redox reaction where methane is oxidized and oxygen is reduced, releasing energy

What is the oxidation of glucose in cellular respiration? What does it release, and what for?

redox process where glucose is oxidized and oxygen is reduced, releasing energy for ATP synthesis

What kind of carrier does NAD+ act as? What is it reduced to during respiration?

Electron carrier; reduced to NADH

What does the electron transport chain consist of?

Consists of molecules, mostly proteins, embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes and the plasma membrane in prokaryotes

What happens in the electron flow?

Electrons from glucose are transferred to NADH, which carries them to the electron transport chain. Electrons move down the chain through a series of redox reactions, losing energy at each step.

What is the energy release during electron transfer used for?

used to form ATP, with the remaining energy released as heat