SEM 1 - WEEK 1 - CHEMISTRY OF LIFE 1 : REACTIONS IN LIVING SYSTEMS

FLASHCARDS

Metabolic Processes That Cells Undergo to Make and Use ATP

Glycolysis, Krebs Cycle, and Oxidative Phosphorylation.

Glycolysis

Anaerobic process that converts glucose to pyruvate, yielding 2 ATP and 2 NADH, does not require oxygen.

Krebs Cycle

Aerobic process converting pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, producing NADH and FADH₂, and releasing CO₂.

ATP Size

ATP is a relatively large molecule as it must be recognised by enzymes and transport proteins and allows for many weak interactions (great specificity).

Oxidative Phosphorylation

Uses electrons from NADH and FADH₂ to create a proton gradient and generate ATP via ATP synthase.

High-Energy Phosphate Bond and Stability

The bond in ATP that stores energy, inherently unstable due to electrostatic repulsion among negative charges.

Covalent Bonds and Energy Transfer

Covalent bonds store energy; breaking them releases high-energy electrons that drive ATP synthesis via energy transfer, not loss.

Electronegativity in Oxidative Respiration

Electronegativity drives the stepwise transfer of electrons in the ETC, with oxygen as the final acceptor. This drives proton pumping across mitochondrial membrane, powering ATP synthesis.

Non-Covalent Bonds and Importance

Weak non-covalent bonds like hydrogen bonds allow for dynamic interactions in protein structure and DNA stability.

Oxygen Transport by Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin binds poorly soluble oxygen reversibly, facilitating transport and preventing oxidative damage.

Importance of Hydrophobic Interactions

Hydrophobic interactions are crucial for cell membrane formation and protein structure stability.