The Citric Acid Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, vital for understanding cellular respiration and metabolism.

Citric Acid Cycle

A closed loop pathway in mitochondria that processes acetyl CoA to generate CO2, ATP, NADH, and FADH2.

Acetyl CoA

A two-carbon molecule formed from pyruvate and coenzyme A, crucial for entering the citric acid cycle.

Aerobic respiration

A metabolic process that requires oxygen to produce ATP from glucose.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The process of generating ATP by passing electrons through the electron transport chain culminating in oxygen reduction.

Electrochemical gradient

A gradient generated by the movement of ions across a membrane, used to drive ATP synthesis.

NAD+/NADH

NAD+ is an electron carrier that is oxidized, while NADH is its reduced form that carries electrons.

Substrate-level phosphorylation

A method of producing ATP directly in metabolic pathways by transferring a phosphate group to ADP.

Anabolic reaction

A reaction that builds larger molecules from smaller ones, requiring energy input.

Catabolic reaction

A reaction that breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy.

Electron transport chain

A series of protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane that facilitate electron transfer and ATP generation.