Cellular Metabolism and Energy Production

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to cellular metabolism and energy production processes.

Metabolism

The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life.

Catabolism

The set of metabolic pathways that breaks down molecules into smaller units and typically releases energy.

Anabolism

The set of metabolic pathways that construct molecules from smaller units and typically requires energy.

Coenzymes

Organic non-protein molecules that assist enzymes by accepting or donating hydrogen ions or electrons.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, yielding energy in the form of ATP.

Aerobic Reaction

A metabolic process that requires oxygen to proceed, producing a significant amount of ATP.

Anaerobic Reaction

A metabolic process that does not require oxygen and produces lower amounts of ATP.

Citric Acid Cycle

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidization of acetyl-CoA.

Electron Transport System (ETS)

A series of protein complexes and other molecules that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that creates ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during cellular respiration.