Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

Goal of Cellular Respiration

Break down glucose into CO₂ and use the energy to make ATP.

Glycolysis

Splits glucose (6C) into 2 pyruvate (3C), producing 2 ATP and 2 NADH; occurs in the cytoplasm and is anaerobic.

Citric Acid Cycle

Pyruvate converted to Acetyl-CoA, releasing CO₂, and producing NADH, FADH₂, and ATP; occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

NADH/FADH₂ used in the ETC to create ATP; uses O₂ as the final electron acceptor, making H₂O; occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Location of Citric Acid Cycle

Takes place in the mitochondrial matrix.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

Convert NADH and FADH₂ into ATP, requiring oxygen.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

NADH and FADH₂ donate electrons to a chain of proteins in the membrane.

Chemiosmosis

H⁺ flows back into the matrix through ATP Synthase, powering ATP synthesis.

Oxygen's Role in ETC

Final electron acceptor in the ETC, combines with electrons and H⁺ to form H₂O.

Fermentation

Backup process that kicks in when there’s no oxygen, preventing oxidative phosphorylation; recycles NADH into NAD⁺.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Happens in muscle cells and causes soreness.

Alcohol Fermentation

Occurs in yeast; produces ethanol and CO₂.

Photosynthesis

Plants use light, CO₂, and water to make glucose and oxygen.

Stroma

Fluid where sugars are made (Calvin Cycle).

Thylakoids

Contain chlorophyll, where light is absorbed.

Light Reactions

Use light to make ATP and NADPH; water is split, and oxygen is released; takes place in thylakoid membrane.

Calvin Cycle

Uses ATP and NADPH to turn CO₂ into glucose; takes place in stroma.

Location of Light Reactions

Take place in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts.

PSII Role in Electron Source

Split H₂O, producing O₂ and adding protons to the gradient.

Dark Reactions

They don’t directly need light, though they usually happen alongside light reactions since they rely on ATP and NADPH made by the light reactions.

Rubisco

The enzyme fixes CO₂ into an organic form.

Photorespiration

When O₂ is high and CO₂ is low, rubisco uses O₂ instead of CO₂; wastes energy and releases CO₂.

C4 Plants

Fix CO₂ in mesophyll cells and send carbon to rubisco in bundle sheath cells, separating CO₂ fixation by space.

CAM plants

Fix CO₂ at night and store it; during the day, they release the stored CO₂ to rubisco - separates by time.