Metabolism Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes covering metabolism, ATP/ADP cycle, photosynthesis (light-dependent and light-independent reactions), and cellular respiration (aerobic, anaerobic, glycolysis, Krebs cycle, ETC, and fermentation).

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate. Has 3 Phosphate groups, stores energy within the 2nd and 3rd phosphate, is an energy source produced from cellular respiration, made up of Adenine, Ribose, and Triphosphate. Produced in Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis (ATP synthase). It is temporary energy storage.

ADP

Adenosine Diphosphate. Has 2 phosphate groups and is a less preferred version of energy. Made up of Adenine, Ribose, and Diphosphate. ADP + Pi creates ATP.

ADP + Pi

Refers to Adenosine Diphosphate combined with inorganic phosphate, which creates ATP by absorbing energy.

ATP - Pi

Refers to ATP losing an inorganic phosphate group, resulting in ADP and the release of energy.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants, algae, cyanobacteria, and photoautotrophs produce their own food through sunlight. The equation is 6CO2 + 6H2O →(light) C6H12O6 + 6O2.

Photoautotrophs

Autotrophs that produce their own food through sunlight, examples include plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.

NADPH

An electron carrier used in Photosynthesis.

NADP+

An electron acceptor used in Photosynthesis.

Photosystem II (PSII)

A protein complex/electron acceptor in the thylakoid membrane space where H2O is broken down into Hydrogen protons and electrons, releasing O2 into the atmosphere, using energy from sunlight.

ETC (Photosynthesis)

Electron Transport Chain in photosynthesis where protons and electrons from H2O create a proton gradient, using electrons accepted in channels, which is active transport, and used in ATP synthase.

Proton Gradient (Photosynthesis)

Created in the ETC by the movement of protons and electrons from H2O, storing energy that is used by ATP synthase.

Photosystem I (PSI)

After electrons are reenergized with sunlight, they combine with NADP+ (not NAD+) to form NADPH (not NADH for photosynthesis here, notes say NAD+ to NADH but context is photosynthesis, so it's NADPH for final product) which is used in the Calvin Cycle.

ATP Synthase (Photosynthesis)

The process where ADP + Pi combine to create ATP, utilizing the energy from the proton gradient created in the thylakoid space via the ETC.

Light Independent Reactions

Also known as the Calvin Cycle, this is where carbon fixation occurs.

Calvin Cycle

The light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, where carbon fixation occurs and atmospheric carbon is converted into organic compounds.

Carbon Fixation

The process where RuBP (5 carbon) takes in Carbon Dioxide, turning into an unstable 6-carbon compound, which then splits into 2 groups of 3 carbon with 1 oxygen attached. Generally, it is the conversion of inorganic carbon into usable organic compounds (sugars) by plants and algae using sunlight.

RuBP

A 5-carbon molecule that takes in Carbon Dioxide during the process of carbon fixation in the Calvin Cycle.

Cellular Respiration

The process used by plants, animals, fungi, protists, and most bacteria to produce ATP. The chemical equation is C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP.

Aerobic Respiration

A type of cellular respiration that requires oxygen, including processes such as ETC, Krebs cycle, and the prep for Krebs cycle.

Anaerobic Respiration

A type of cellular respiration that does not require oxygen, with glycolysis being the only anaerobic stage. An example is fermentation.

Electron Carriers (Cellular Respiration)

Oxygen (O2), NAD+, and FAD are electron carriers in cellular respiration.

Glycolysis

Occurs in the cytoplasm where glucose is converted into G3P using 2 ATP. The 2 G3P molecules then turn into pyruvate, producing 4 ATP from 4 ADP and attaching hydrogen onto NAD+.

Pyruvate

The end product of glycolysis, formed from G3P by taking away its hydrogen and attaching it to NAD+.

Prep for Krebs Cycle

Occurs in the inner membrane space, where pyruvate sheds remaining hydrogens to NAD+ and releases CO2 to form Acetyl, which then combines with COA.

Acetyl

A 2-carbon molecule formed from pyruvate after releasing CO2, which then combines with COA.

COA

A variant of Vitamin A that combines with Acetyl during the 'Prep for Krebs Cycle' stage.

Krebs Cycle

Occurs in the matrix, producing citric acid, releasing CO2, generating electrons for FAD & NAD electron carriers, and producing a small amount of energy (ATP).

Citric Acid

A compound produced and kept within the Krebs Cycle.

ETC (Cellular Respiration)

Electron Transport Chain in cellular respiration, located in the Cristae (inner membrane folds). It processes overloaded electron carriers like NADH and FADH2, converting them back to NAD+ and FAD, respectively. Creates a proton gradient for ATP synthase to produce approximately 36 ATP, and combines remaining electrons with O2 to form H2O.

ATP Synthase (Cellular Respiration)

A process within the ETC (cellular respiration) where a proton gradient's energy is used to combine ADP & Pi, precisely producing 36 ATP.

Fermentation

A form of cellular respiration without oxygen (anaerobic respiration), with two main types: lactic acid fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

A type of fermentation occurring in animals and bacteria after exercising, producing Lactic Acid and NAD+, often leading to muscle soreness.

Alcoholic Fermentation

A type of fermentation occurring in yeast, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere and producing ethanol and NAD+ (which goes back to glycolysis).