Cellular Respiration, Fermentation, and Enzyme Function

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms related to fermentation, cellular respiration, and enzyme function from the lecture notes.

Fermentation

A two-part anaerobic process in the cytoplasm consisting of glycolysis followed by alcohol or lactic acid fermentation to generate ATP without oxygen.

Alcohol Fermentation

Fermentation pathway in yeast that converts pyruvate into ethanol and CO₂, used in brewing and baking.

Lactic Acid Fermentation

Fermentation pathway in mammalian muscle cells that converts pyruvate into lactic acid under low-oxygen conditions.

Glycolysis

The first stage of cellular respiration in the cytoplasm that splits glucose into two molecules of pyruvate.

Cellular Respiration

Aerobic biochemical process that converts glucose and O₂ into CO₂, H₂O, and large amounts of ATP.

Krebs Cycle

Mitochondrial cycle that oxidizes acetyl-CoA to CO₂ while producing NADH and FADH₂ electron carriers.

Electron Transport Chain (ETC)

Final stage of cellular respiration where electrons flow through membrane proteins to drive ATP synthesis.

KOH (Potassium Hydroxide)

Chemical compound used in respiration experiments to absorb CO₂ for precise O₂ measurement.

Enzyme

Protein catalyst that speeds up biochemical reactions by lowering activation energy without being consumed.

Substrate

The reactant molecule upon which an enzyme acts during a biochemical reaction.

Product (in enzymatic reactions)

The molecule(s) formed after an enzyme converts its substrate.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to proceed; lowered by enzymes.

Activator

A molecule that increases an enzyme’s catalytic activity.

Inhibitor

A molecule that decreases or blocks an enzyme’s catalytic activity; many drugs and poisons act this way.

Optimal pH (for enzymes)

Specific acidity or basicity level at which an enzyme’s activity is at its maximum.

Optimal Temperature (for enzymes)

Specific temperature at which an enzyme catalyzes reactions most efficiently.

Substrate Concentration (Effect)

The amount of substrate present; increasing it generally raises enzyme activity until saturation is reached.

Catalase

Enzyme that rapidly decomposes hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen (2 H₂O₂ → 2 H₂O + O₂).