Glucose Metabolism and Cellular Respiration

These flashcards cover key concepts related to glucose metabolism and cellular respiration, helping students understand the breakdown of glucose, the stages of cellular respiration, and the generation of ATP.

What is the primary molecule utilized to generate ATP in cells?

Glucose

How much ATP does the average person synthesize daily?

The average person synthesizes their weight in ATP molecules each day.

What is the process called by which glucose is broken down to generate ATP?

Glycolysis

Where does glycolysis occur?

Glycolysis occurs in the cell cytoplasm.

What are the products of glycolysis?

Two pyruvate molecules, two ATP, and two NADH are produced.

What is the Krebs cycle also known as?

the TCA cycle or citric acid cycle.

What happens to pyruvate after glycolysis?

Pyruvate undergoes an intermediate step to become acetyl CoA.

What do NADH and FADH2 carry to the electron transport chain?

high-energy electrons to the electron transport chain.

What is the primary purpose of the electron transport chain?

To generate a large amount of ATP via oxidative phosphorylation.

How is ATP generated in the electron transport chain?

chemiosmosis via ATP synthase.

What is fermentation?

an anaerobic process that allows the regeneration of NAD+ from NADH.

What are the two types of fermentation and their products?

Lactic acid fermentation produces lactic acid, and alcoholic fermentation produces ethanol.

Why do cells undergo fermentation?

to regenerate NAD+ when oxygen is unavailable.

What is aerobic cellular respiration?

the set of reactions that require oxygen to generate ATP.

How much ATP can aerobic cellular respiration yield from one glucose molecule?

up to 38 ATP molecules from one glucose molecule

What is the main difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?

the final electron acceptor: oxygen for aerobic and alternative acceptors for anaerobic.

What role do enzymes play in metabolic pathways?

They catalyze specific reactions in metabolic pathways.

How does ATP function in cellular processes?

ATP acts as the energy currency of the cell, used for various metabolic reactions.

What process generates the proton motive force in the electron transport chain?

The movement of electrons through the chain

What is oxidative phosphorylation?

the process of ATP generation by the electron transport chain.

Where does the Krebs cycle occur?

the mitochondrial matrix.

What are the products of the krebs cycle?

2 ATP, NADH, and 2 FADH2