Fermentation and Anaerobic Respiration

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to fermentation and anaerobic respiration, aiding in understanding the processes involved in ATP production without oxygen.

Fermentation

A process that enables cells to produce ATP without the use of oxygen.

Anaerobic Respiration

A type of respiration that does not use oxygen as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The main method of producing ATP in aerobic respiration that requires oxygen.

ATP Yield

The amount of ATP produced from cellular respiration, which depends on the availability of oxygen.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of proteins located in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons and pump protons to generate ATP.

Proton-Motive Force

The force generated by the protein gradient across the membrane that drives ATP synthesis.

Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

Bacteria that use sulfate as the final electron acceptor in anaerobic respiration instead of oxygen.

Pyruvate

The end product of glycolysis, which can be further processed in fermentation or aerobic respiration.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing a net gain of ATP.

Substrate-Level Phosphorylation

The direct generation of ATP from ADP and a phosphorylated intermediate in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.

NADH

Reduced form of NAD+, acts as an electron carrier in energy metabolism.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

A type of fermentation that converts pyruvate into lactate and regenerates NAD+.

Alcohol Fermentation

A fermentation process that converts pyruvate into ethanol and CO2, regenerating NAD+.

Obligate Anaerobes

Organisms that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen and rely on fermentation or anaerobic respiration.

Facultative Anaerobes

Organisms that can survive using either fermentation or aerobic respiration depending on oxygen availability.

Acetaldehyde

The intermediate compound formed from pyruvate during alcohol fermentation.

Lactate

The ionized form of lactic acid, produced during lactic acid fermentation.

NAD+

The oxidized form of NADH that acts as an electron acceptor in glycolysis.

Citric Acid Cycle

A part of cellular respiration that processes acetyl-CoA and completes the breakdown of glucose.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a substance during a chemical reaction.

Glycolytic Pathway

The sequence of reactions that convert glucose into pyruvate.

Aerobic Conditions

Conditions in which oxygen is present, allowing for aerobic respiration.

Anaerobic Conditions

Conditions in which oxygen is absent, leading to fermentation or anaerobic respiration.

Electron Acceptor

A molecule that accepts electrons during cellular respiration or fermentation.

Baker’s Yeast

Yeast used in baking and fermentation that produces CO2 bubbles, causing bread to rise.

Fermentation Products

The end substances formed during fermentation, such as ethanol and lactate.

Glycogen

The storage form of glucose in animals, produced from glucose during anaerobic metabolism.

Metabolic Pathways

Series of connected biochemical reactions within a cell.

Lactate Production

The process that occurs when pyruvate is converted to lactate under anaerobic conditions.

Krebs Cycle

Another name for the citric acid cycle, where acetyl-CoA is oxidized.

Histotoxic Hypoxia

A condition where body tissues are unable to utilize oxygen, leading to anaerobic respiration.

Carbon Dioxide Release

A by-product of alcohol fermentation, released during the conversion of pyruvate to ethanol.

Glucose Oxidation

The process of breaking down glucose to produce energy, through glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.

End Products of Fermentation

The final molecules produced by fermentation, such as ethanol or lactate.

Kinetics of Glycolysis

The rate and mechanism of glycolysis, which can be affected by the presence of oxygen.

Metabolic Flexibility

The ability of cells to switch between metabolic pathways based on the availability of nutrients and oxygen.

Fatigue from Lactate

The misconception that lactate accumulation causes muscle fatigue during intense exercise.

Oxygen Debt

The amount of oxygen required to oxidize the accumulated lactate after intense exercise.

Photosynthesizing Cyanobacteria

Microorganisms that produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis, affecting atmospheric conditions.

Chemical Energy Harvesting

The process of converting food energy into ATP through various metabolic pathways.

Metabolic Heirloom

Glycolysis, viewed as an ancient and fundamental metabolic pathway in evolved organisms.

Oxidizing Agent

A substance that gains electrons in a redox reaction, facilitating oxidation.

Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Types of muscle fibers in humans, categorized as red (aerobic) or white (anaerobic).

End Products of Glycolysis

The principal products are pyruvate, ATP, and NADH.

Respiratory Chain

Another name for the electron transport chain, involved in aerobic respiration.

Metabolic Pathway Significance

The importance of different metabolic pathways for energy production in various organisms.

Acetyl-CoA

A key intermediate in metabolism that enters the citric acid cycle from pyruvate.

Evolutionary Basis of Glycolysis

The theory that glycolysis is one of the oldest metabolic pathways, evolutionarily speaking.

Fermentation Rate

The speed at which fermentation occurs, influenced by the organism and conditions.