BIOENERGETICS

What is metabolism?

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms, transforming food into energy.

What does bioenergetics study?

Energy flow through biological systems.

What are the main components of a cell?

Cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, and organelles.

What distinguishes endergonic reactions from exergonic reactions?

Endergonic reactions absorb energy, while exergonic reactions release energy.

What is oxidation?

The loss of electrons.

What is reduction?

The gain of electrons.

What is activation energy?

The minimum energy required to initiate a chemical reaction.

How do enzymes affect activation energy?

Enzymes lower activation energy, speeding up reactions.

What is the function of ATP in the body?

ATP serves as the primary energy carrier in cells, fueling various biological processes.

What biological work requires ATP?

Muscle contraction, active transport, and synthesis of molecules.

What are the three main energy systems?

Phosphagen system, anaerobic glycolysis, and aerobic system.

Which energy system activates first during exercise?

The phosphagen system.

What is Acetyl CoA and its importance?

Crucial for energy production and linking carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.

What does the Krebs cycle produce?

NADH and FADH2, which store energy for the electron transport chain.

Why is O2 essential in the body?

For aerobic respiration, enabling efficient ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation.

What does the electron transport chain (ETC) create?

A proton gradient across the mitochondrial membrane facilitating ATP synthesis.

How much ATP does NADH produce in the ETC?

About 2.5 ATP per NADH.

What does beta oxidation accomplish?

It breaks down fatty acids, yielding Acetyl CoA and reducing equivalents, producing ATP.

When do proteins serve as energy sources?

When carbohydrates and fats are insufficient.

What energy systems are utilized during sprinting?

Primarily the phosphagen system and anaerobic glycolysis.

What is the difference between anaerobic and aerobic glycolysis?

Anaerobic glycolysis occurs without oxygen; aerobic glycolysis occurs with oxygen.

Why is fat more efficient than carbohydrates in energy production?

Fat provides more ATP per molecule due to higher carbon content and energy density.

How is glucose stored in the body?

As glycogen in the liver and muscles.

How is fat stored in the body?

As triglycerides in adipose tissue.

Where does anaerobic metabolism occur?

In the cytoplasm.

Where does aerobic metabolism take place?

In the mitochondria.

What role do NADH and FADH2 play in the body?

They are electron carriers that transfer electrons to the ETC, driving ATP production.

How much ATP does the immediate energy system produce?

1 ATP per reaction.

How many ATP does anaerobic glycolysis generate per glucose?

2 ATP per glucose molecule.

How much ATP does aerobic glycolysis yield per glucose?

30-32 ATP per glucose molecule.

What is glycogenolysis?

The breakdown of glycogen into glucose.

What is gluconeogenesis?

The formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources.

What are the components of a triglyceride?

Glycerol and three fatty acid chains.

What is the function of creatine kinase?

An enzyme notable in the phosphocreatine system.

What does phosphofructokinase do?

An important enzyme in glycolysis.