Cellular Energetics

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to cellular energetics and respiratory processes discussed in the lecture notes.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy in the form of ATP, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.

Catabolic Pathways

Metabolic pathways that break down molecules to release energy, predominantly including fermentation and cellular respiration.

Fermentation

A catabolic process that partially degrades sugars without using oxygen.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a substance.

Reduction

The gain of electrons by a substance.

Glycolysis

The first step in cellular respiration where glucose is broken down into two pyruvate molecules, producing 2 ATP and creating NADH.

Substrate Level Phosphorylation

A process of generating ATP by transferring a phosphate group from a substrate molecule directly to ADP.

Krebs Cycle

Also known as the Citric Acid Cycle, it occurs in the mitochondria and processes Acetyl CoA to produce ATP, NADH, and carbon dioxide.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The final step of cellular respiration involving the electron transport chain and the generation of ATP through chemiosmosis.

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in all living organisms.

NADH

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form), an important electron carrier in cellular respiration.

Proton-Motive Force

The energy created from the H+ ion gradient across a membrane that drives ATP synthesis.

Chemiosmosis

The process through which ATP is generated using the energy from the movement of H+ ions across a membrane.

Ethanol

The type of alcohol produced by yeast during fermentation.

Lactate

The compound produced by muscles when glucose is broken down anaerobically.

Evolutionary significance of glycolysis

Highlights how glycolysis is a universal process believed to have evolved early in prokaryotic life before atmospheric oxygen existed.