Energy Harvesting and Metabolism

These flashcards cover key concepts related to energy metabolism, glycolysis, and cellular respiration from the lecture notes.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert sunlight into chemical energy in the form of sugars.

Catabolism

The metabolic process that breaks down molecules to release energy.

Anabolism

The metabolic process that builds up molecules, requiring energy.

ATP

A high-energy molecule that acts as a carrier of energy within cells.

NADH

An electron carrier molecule that stores energy for cellular processes.

Exergonic reaction

A reaction that releases energy and is spontaneous.

Endergonic reaction

A reaction that requires energy input and is non-spontaneous.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing energy.

Fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugars to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons between two species.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of complexes that transfer electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen, resulting in ATP synthesis.

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions across a selectively permeable membrane, down their electrochemical gradient.

Proton-motive force

The potential energy stored as a gradient of protons across a membrane.

ATP synthase

An enzyme that creates ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate, powered by protons moving through it.

Glucose oxidation

The metabolic pathway that involves the breakdown of glucose to extract energy.

Acetyl CoA

A crucial metabolite in the citric acid cycle that is formed from pyruvate and used in various biosynthetic processes.

Phosphofructokinase

An enzyme that plays a key regulatory role in glycolysis.

NAD+

An essential electron carrier that accepts electrons during metabolic reactions.