Cell Respiration and Glycolysis

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to cell respiration, the role of NAD, and Glycolysis.

NAD

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme in cell respiration that functions as a hydrogen carrier due to its ability to be reduced and oxidised.

Redox Reactions

Chemical reactions involving the exchange of electrons between molecules, where one molecule is oxidised (loses electrons) and another is reduced (gains electrons).

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a molecule, atom, or ion.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a molecule, atom, or ion.

Glycolysis

The first step of cell respiration, occurring in the cytoplasm, where a glucose molecule is split into two pyruvate molecules.

Phosphorylation (in Glycolysis)

The first phase of glycolysis, involving the use of two ATP molecules to phosphorylate and destabilise the glucose molecule.

Lysis (in Glycolysis)

The second phase of glycolysis, where the unstable, phosphorylated glucose molecule is split into two glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P) molecules.

Dehydrogenation and Oxidation (in Glycolysis)

The third phase of glycolysis, involving the dehydrogenation and oxidation of each G3P molecule, reducing NAD to NADH.

ATP Generation (in Glycolysis)

The fourth phase of glycolysis, where two ATP are generated by substrate-level phosphorylation from each G3P, forming pyruvate.

Substrate-level phosphorylation

The process of generating ATP using ADP and a phosphate taken from another molecule, the substrate.