Cellular Respiration Flashcards

Cellular respiration is a metabolic process that cells use to convert nutrients into energy, primarily producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

The three main stages of cellular respiration are glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation.

During glycolysis, glucose is broken down into pyruvate in the cytoplasm, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH.

The citric acid cycle takes place in the mitochondria of cells.

Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in oxidative phosphorylation, forming water and enabling the production of a large amount of ATP.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a molecule that serves as the primary energy carrier in all living organisms.

ATP is generated through cellular respiration and photosynthesis in plants, continuously being regenerated from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate.

ATP is crucial for muscle contraction as it provides the energy needed for cross-bridge cycling and the active transport of calcium ions.

The Krebs cycle, also known as the citric acid cycle, is a series of chemical reactions that generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA.

The Krebs cycle produces high-energy molecules such as NADH and FADH2, as well as carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Oxidative phosphorylation is the final stage of cellular respiration where ATP is produced using the electron transport chain and a proton gradient.

The total maximum ATP yield from one glucose molecule is around 36-38 ATP.

During anaerobic respiration, cells can undergo fermentation, producing either lactate in muscle cells or ethanol in yeast cells, along with 2 ATP.

ATP was discovered by German chemist Karl Lohmann in 1929.

ATP acts as a substrate for kinases, transferring phosphate groups to proteins and modifying their activity in signal transduction pathways.

The electron transport chain transfers electrons from NADH and FADH2, creating a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis.

Iron is essential for cellular respiration as it plays a vital role in oxygen transport and various enzymatic reactions.

After glycolysis, pyruvate is oxidized into acetyl-CoA in the mitochondria.

Calcium ions are necessary for muscle contraction as they bind to proteins that allow myosin to interact with actin.

High-energy phosphate bonds in ATP are crucial for energy transfer within cells, allowing ATP to release energy when hydrolyzed.

The body regulates iron levels through mechanisms controlling iron absorption, recycling, and loss to maintain homeostasis.

ATP is vital for maintaining cellular functions and overall homeostasis by providing the energy required for various biochemical processes.