Cellular Respiration and ATP

This set of flashcards provides vocabulary terms and definitions based on the lecture notes regarding cellular respiration, ATP, and related metabolic processes.

ATP

The energy currency of our cells that stores and transfers energy.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells extract energy from glucose to generate ATP.

Fermentation

Metabolism without oxygen that regenerates NAD+ for glycolysis.

Redox Reactions

Chemical reactions where electrons are transferred between molecules.

Oxidation

The addition of oxygen or loss of electrons, releasing energy.

Reduction

The gaining of electrons or addition of hydrogen, storing energy.

Glycolysis

The process of breaking down glucose anaerobically to produce ATP.

NAD+

An electron carrier that becomes reduced to NADH during cellular respiration.

FAD+

An electron carrier that becomes reduced to FADH2 during cellular respiration.

Citric Acid Cycle

The metabolic pathway that further breaks down pyruvate to produce ATP and store energy in NADH and FADH2.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The process that uses energy stored in NADH and FADH2 to manufacture ATP in the mitochondria.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of proteins that transfer electrons and pump protons to create a gradient for ATP production.

Chemiosmosis

The movement of protons back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase to produce ATP.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

A type of fermentation that occurs in muscle cells when oxygen is limited, producing lactate.

Alcoholic Fermentation

A type of fermentation that occurs in yeast, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide.

Coenzyme A

A molecule derived from vitamin B5 that plays a crucial role in the oxidation of pyruvate.

Oxidation of Pyruvate

The process occurring in the mitochondrial matrix where pyruvate is converted into acetyl CoA.

Energy Investment Phase

The phase in glycolysis where ATP is used to split glucose into two molecules of G3P.

Energy Payoff Phase

The phase in glycolysis where ATP and NADH are produced from the oxidation of G3P.

Non-glucose metabolism

Processes that break down other organic molecules to produce energy.

Exergonic Reaction

A chemical reaction that releases energy.

Endergonic Reaction

A chemical reaction that requires energy input.