Cellular Respiration and Enzymes

Vocabulary flashcards about cellular respiration and enzymes.

Glycolysis

Breaks one glucose (6-carbon) molecule into two pyruvate (3-carbon) molecules in the cytoplasm.

Pyruvate Oxidation

Converts each pyruvate into acetyl-CoA in the mitochondrial matrix.

Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)

Processes acetyl-CoA to extract high-energy electrons in the mitochondrial matrix.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

Uses electrons from NADH and FADH₂ to power ATP synthesis on the inner mitochondrial membrane (cristae).

Oxidative Phosphorylation

Part of the electron transport chain that synthesizes ATP.

ATP (Glycolysis)

Net gain of 2 ATP produced in Glycolysis.

NADH (Glycolysis)

2 NADH electron carriers produced in Glycolysis.

Pyruvate

2 pyruvate molecules produced in Glycolysis.

NADH (Pyruvate Oxidation)

2 NADH electron carriers produced per glucose in Pyruvate Oxidation.

CO₂ (Pyruvate Oxidation)

2 CO₂ molecules produced per glucose in Pyruvate Oxidation.

Acetyl-CoA

2 Acetyl-CoA molecules produced per glucose in Pyruvate Oxidation.

ATP (Krebs Cycle)

2 ATP molecules produced per glucose in the Krebs Cycle.

NADH (Krebs Cycle)

6 NADH electron carriers produced per glucose in the Krebs Cycle.

FADH₂ (Krebs Cycle)

2 FADH₂ electron carriers produced per glucose in the Krebs Cycle.

CO₂ (Krebs Cycle)

4 CO₂ molecules produced per glucose in the Krebs Cycle.

Exergonic Reaction

Releases energy; products have less free energy than reactants (ΔG < 0).

Endergonic Reaction

Requires input of energy; products have more free energy than reactants (ΔG > 0).

Enzyme Active Site

The location on the enzyme where the substrate binds.

Enzyme Denaturation

The unfolding of an enzyme's 3D structure, causing it to lose its function.

Optimum pH

The ideal pH range at which an enzyme functions most effectively.