Unit 6: Cell Respiration Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms related to cell respiration, covering processes, locations, and molecules involved in energy transfer.

Cellular Respiration

The process of releasing chemical energy from organic molecules, such as glucose, to make ATP.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that creates ATP (adenosine triphosphate) using a proton gradient.

Chemical Potential Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of chemical reactions that extract energy from acetyl CoA and produce ATP, NADH, and FADH2.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors via redox reactions, and couples this electron transfer with the transfer of protons across a membrane.

Glycolysis

The breakdown of glucose by enzymes, releasing energy and pyruvate.

Pyruvate Oxidation

The conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA before it enters the citric acid cycle.

NAD+

An electron carrier involved in redox reactions; it accepts electrons and becomes NADH.

NADH

The reduced form of NAD+; carries electrons to the electron transport chain.

FAD

A redox-active coenzyme that is typically involved in several important metabolic reactions.

FADH2

The reduced form of FAD, which donates electrons to the electron transport chain.

Mitochondria

The powerhouse of the cell; the organelle where cellular respiration occurs in eukaryotes.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a substance in a redox reaction.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The production of ATP using energy derived from the redox reactions of an electron transport chain.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants and other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy.

Pyruvate

The end product of glycolysis, which is converted into acetyl CoA before entering the citric acid cycle.

Redox Reaction

A chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons between two species.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a substance in a redox reaction.

Substrate-Level Phosphorylation

The formation of ATP by the direct transfer of a phosphate group from an intermediate substrate in catabolism to ADP.

Decarboxylation

A chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide (CO2).

Acetyl CoA (Acetyl Coenzyme A)

A molecule that participates in many biochemical reactions in protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.