Cellular Respiration and Oxidative Phosphorylation

These flashcards cover key concepts and processes involved in cellular respiration, including glycolysis, the Krebs Cycle, the Electron Transport Chain, and oxidative phosphorylation.

Glycolysis

The process that splits glucose (6C) into 2 molecules of pyruvate (3C) and produces a net of 2 ATP and NADH.

Intermediate step

The phase where pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA, producing CO2 and NADH.

Krebs Cycle

A metabolic cycle that produces ATP, CO2, and electron carriers (NADH and FADH2) while regenerating oxaloacetate.

Electron carriers

Molecules such as NAD+ and FAD that transport electrons during glycolysis and the Krebs cycle and are reduced to NADH and FADH2.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons during a reaction, which is the opposite of reduction.

Reduction

The gain of electrons during a reaction, leading to an increase in energy for the molecule.

ETC (Electron Transport Chain)

A series of protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons and create a proton gradient for ATP synthesis.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme complex located in the inner mitochondrial membrane that synthesizes ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) using energy from a proton gradient.

Chemiosmosis

The process of ATP generation in mitochondria, resulting from the movement of protons across a membrane.

Oxidative phosphorylation

The final stage of cellular respiration that uses the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis to produce ATP.