23 - Cellular Respiration

Cellular respiration

metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose and other food molecules to produce ATP

Aerobic respiration

process in which organisms convert energy in the presence of oxygen

Electron carrier

a molecule capable of accepting one or two electrons from one molecule and donating them to another molecule

Electron transport chain

a series of proteins and other molecules that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors through a series of redox reactions, coupling the energy released with active transport of hydrogen ions (H+)

Mitochondria

(singular = mitochondrion) cellular organelles responsible for carrying out cellular respiration. Originally derived from proteobacteria via endosymbiosis.

Matrix

the fluid-filled space inside the inner membrane of the mitochondrion

Intermembrane space

the fluid-filled space between the outer membrane and the inner membrane of the mitochondrion

Glycolysis

process of breaking glucose into two three-carbon molecules with the production of ATP and NADH

Fermentation

an anaerobic process that quickly generates an additional ATP through the reduction of pyruvate

Acetyl CoA

combination of an acetyl group (two carbons) derived from pyruvate and coenzyme A

Pyruvate

three-carbon sugar that can be decarboxylated and oxidized to make acetyl CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle under aerobic conditions; the end product of glycolysis

Pyruvate oxidation

the conversion of pyruvate into an acetyl group, which takes place when electrons from pyruvate are transferred to NAD+

Citric acid cycle

(also Krebs cycle) series of enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions that completes glucose catabolism during cellular respiration