Unit 4 - Cell Energy Vocabulary

Flashcards for understanding key terms and definitions related to cell energy.

aerobic respiration

Growing or metabolizing only in the presence of molecular oxygen.

alcoholic fermentation

The process by which pyruvic acid is converted to ethyl alcohol.

anaerobic respiration

Growing or metabolizing only in the absence of molecular oxygen.

cellular respiration

The process by which cells generate ATP through a series of redox (chemical) reactions.

chloroplasts

A plastid containing chlorophyll; the site of photosynthesis.

chlorophyll

Principal pigment (green) of plants and other photosynthetic organisms.

citric acid cycle (Kreb’s cycle)

Series of chemical reactions in aerobic respirations in which an acetyl coenzyme A is completely degraded to carbon dioxide and water with the release of metabolic energy that is used to produce ATP.

stomata

Small opening in the epidermis of a plant that allows carbon dioxide, water and oxygen to diffuse in and out of the leaf.

stroma

Fluid part of the chloroplast, surrounds the thylakoids.

carbon fixation

Taking CO2 (inorganic carbon) and converting it into an organic compound.

photon

A quantity of light energy that behaves as if it were a particle.

phosphorylation

The process of generating ATP from ADP and a phosphate by means of chemiosmosis.

C3 plants, C4 plants, CAM Plants

Know that they do photosynthesis differently.

fermentation

Process by which cells release energy in the absence of oxygen.

oxidation

The loss of electron(s) from a substance involved in a redox reaction.

reduction

The gaining of electron(s) to a substance involved in a redox reaction.

oxidative phosphorylation

The production of ATP using energy from the redox reactions of an electron transport chain (ETC), the 3rd stage of cellular respiration.

substrate-level phosphorylation

Enzyme catalyzed formation of ATP by direct transfer of a phosphate group to ADP from an intermediate substrate in catabolism.

ATP synthase

Cluster of proteins that span the cell membrane and allow hydrogen ions (H+) to pass through it. Energy is used to generate ATP.

chemiosmosis

Using the energy stored in the form of a hydrogen ion (H+) gradient across a membrane to drive cellular work, such as the synthesis of ATP.

proton-motive force

Potential energy stored in the form of a proton electrochemical gradient, generated by the pumping of hydrogen ions (H+) across a membrane during chemiosmosis.

autotroph

Organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds.

heterotroph

Organism that obtains food by consuming other living things (aka consumer).

glycolysis

A pathway in which glucose is oxidized to pyruvic acid.

lactic acid fermentation

The process by which pyruvic acid is converted to lactic acid.

light dependent (Reaction)

Reaction of photosynthesis that requires light; light energy is absorbed and converted to chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH.

light independent (Reaction)

The fixing of carbon dioxide in a 3 carbon compound for use in sugar production or other end products.

mitochondria

Organelles that are the site of aerobic respiration in eukaryotic cells.

photosynthesis

The process by which light energy is converted to chemical energy stored in organic molecules.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

Series of chemical reactions in the thylakoid membrane or inner mitochondrial membrane during which hydrogens or their electrons are passed along with the release of energy.

glyco-

Sugar.