Energy Production and Metabolism

These flashcards cover key concepts related to glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and ATP production, providing essential information for understanding cellular respiration.

What are the main products of glycolysis from one molecule of glucose?

2 pyruvate, 2 ATP, and 2 NADH.

What is the function of NADH in cellular respiration?

NADH serves as an activated energy carrier that links oxidation of food molecules to ATP production.

What is substrate-level phosphorylation?

The direct synthesis of ATP from ADP and a phosphate group, mediated by an enzyme.

What is the citric acid cycle also known as?

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle or Krebs cycle.

What key process occurs in the electron transport chain?

It establishes a proton gradient used to produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

What happens to NADH during anaerobic pyruvate fermentation?

NADH is converted back to NAD+ to allow glycolysis to continue.

What is the Warburg effect?

The phenomenon where cancer cells preferentially produce energy through anaerobic processes even in the presence of oxygen.

What are the three main phases of the citric acid cycle?

1. Generation of citrate from acetyl CoA and oxaloacetate, 2. Rearrangement and oxidation to generate NADH and GTP, 3. Regeneration of oxaloacetate with the formation of FADH2 and NADH.

How are triglycerides utilized as an energy source in cellular respiration?

Triglycerides are broken down into glycerol and fatty acids; glycerol is converted into glycolytic intermediates, while fatty acids are oxidized to produce acetyl CoA.

What role does ATP synthase play in ATP production?

ATP synthase uses the proton gradient generated by the electron transport chain to synthesize ATP from ADP and Pi.