3.0 Glycolysis and Pyruvate Oxidation.pptx

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that breaks glucose down to pyruvate, occurring in the cytoplasm.

Pyruvate Oxidation

The process by which pyruvate is converted to acetyl coenzyme A, occurring when oxygen is present.

ATP

A high-energy molecule used as an energy currency in the cell.

NADH

An electron-carrying molecule that donates electrons plus energy to other molecules during cellular respiration.

Krebs Cycle

Also known as the Citric Acid Cycle, it occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and is a key component of cellular respiration.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane that generates ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

Chemiosmosis

The process of using a proton gradient to drive ATP synthesis.

Acetyl Co-A

A carrier molecule formed from the acetyl group and coenzyme A during pyruvate oxidation.

Glucose

A six-carbon sugar molecule that is the primary energy source for cellular respiration.

Carbon Dioxide

A byproduct released during pyruvate oxidation when one carbon is cleaved from pyruvate.

Phosphorylation

The addition of a phosphate group to a molecule, such as glucose in the first step of glycolysis.