Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

These flashcards cover key concepts and terms related to cellular respiration and fermentation processes.

ATP synthase

An enzyme that facilitates the production of ATP by adding inorganic phosphates to ADP.

Oxidative phosphorylation

A metabolic process that uses oxygen to produce ATP, converting it to water in the process.

Substrate level phosphorylation

A process of generating ATP by transferring a phosphate group directly from a substrate molecule to ADP.

Anaerobic respiration

A form of respiration that does not use oxygen, resulting in less ATP production compared to aerobic respiration.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, producing ATP and regenerating NAD+ from NADH.

Facultative anaerobes

Organisms that can survive with or without oxygen, often showing different growth patterns based on oxygen availability.

Pyruvate

A key intermediate in several metabolic pathways, produced during glycolysis and used in fermentation.

NADH oxidation

The process of converting NADH back to NAD+ to allow for continued cellular respiration or fermentation.

ATP yield in fermentation

Fermentation produces a net gain of 2 ATP per glucose molecule.

Electron acceptor

A molecule that accepts electrons during the electron transport chain; in anaerobic respiration, this can be something other than oxygen.

ATP synthase

An enzyme that facilitates the production of ATP by adding inorganic phosphates to ADP.

Oxidative phosphorylation

A metabolic process that uses oxygen to produce ATP, converting it to water in the process.

Substrate level phosphorylation

A process of generating ATP by transferring a phosphate group directly from a substrate molecule to ADP.

Anaerobic respiration

A form of respiration that does not use oxygen, resulting in less ATP production compared to aerobic respiration.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, producing ATP and regenerating NAD+ from NADH.

Facultative anaerobes

Organisms that can survive with or without oxygen, often showing different growth patterns based on oxygen availability.

Pyruvate

A key intermediate in several metabolic pathways, produced during glycolysis and used in fermentation.

NADH oxidation

The process of converting NADH back to NAD+ to allow for continued cellular respiration or fermentation.

ATP yield in fermentation

Fermentation produces a net gain of 2 ATP per glucose molecule.

Electron acceptor

A molecule that accepts electrons during the electron transport chain; in anaerobic respiration, this can be something other than oxygen.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, occurring in the cytoplasm and producing a net of 2 ATP and 2 NADH molecules.

Krebs Cycle (Citric Acid Cycle)

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetate derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into carbon dioxide and chemical energy in the form of ATP, NADH, and FADH_2.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

A series of protein complexes and other molecules that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors via redox reactions, coupling this electron transfer with the pumping of protons across a membrane to generate an electrochemical gradient.

Proton-motive force

The electrochemical potential energy stored in the form of a proton concentration gradient and electrical potential difference across a membrane, driving processes like ATP synthesis by ATP synthase.