Cellular Respiration/Anaerobic Respiration

A few terms that are good to know for the unit of cellular respiration, which deals with the mitochondria and its production of energy.

glycolysis

a ten-step process occurring in the cytoplasm that allows for glucose to be broken down into two three-carbon molecules of pyruvate in addition to 4 ATP being released through the addition of phosphate to ADP. requires 2 ATP to begin this step.

Krebs cycle

pyruvate is used in this next step. takes place in the mitochondria. acetyl-CoA is formed by pyruvate and a coenzyme, combines with OAA, producing citric acid. after citric acid forms, it releases CO2 in addition to 10NADH, 2FADH2, and 4ATP.

electron transport chain

e- are being transferred across the membrane of the mitochondria through redox reactions (exergonic). NADH and FADH2 donate e- to the protein channels, which excites them and allows for H+ protons to travel through them into the inter membrane space, creating a proton gradient. goes through four complexes before ATP synthase takes the H+ protons and turns ADP to ATP.

alcohol fermentation

cells take pyruvate and make it into ethyl alcohol (C2H5OH) and CO2 in an anaerobic process while NADH is oxidized to form NAD+.

lactic acid fermentation

pyruvate is reduced to form lactic acid, while NADH is oxidized to form NAD+. this is used during exercise when oxygen can’t reach the muscles.