chapter 9 cellular respiration and fermentation Flashcards
(61 cards)
What do producers do in the carbon cycle?
Producers bring carbon atoms (carbon dioxide) from the air into living things such as plants.
This process involves photosynthesis, where CO2 is converted into sugar molecules.
What happens to carbon in plants during photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide enters the leaf, moves into a cell, and goes into chloroplasts to make sugar molecules.
These sugar molecules can be used to build larger carbon-containing molecules like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Define primary consumers in the carbon cycle.
Primary consumers are herbivores that eat plants, and plant tissue enters their digestive system.
This process involves breaking down plant molecules in the digestive system to build their own tissues.
What role do decomposers play in the carbon cycle?
Decomposers like fungi and bacteria break down dead elements of consumers and producers and use some carbon atoms in their own bodies.
They are essential for recycling carbon back into the ecosystem.
What occurs during cellular respiration?
Carbon-containing molecules are broken down to produce ATP, releasing CO2 as a by-product back into the atmosphere.
This process is balanced with photosynthesis.
Where is most ATP produced in the cell?
Most ATP is produced in the mitochondria.
ATP powers various cellular functions, including contraction.
What is glycolysis?
Glycolysis is the first step of cellular respiration where glucose is broken down into two 3-carbon molecules called pyruvic acid.
It occurs outside the mitochondria and requires energy investment.
What is produced during glycolysis?
Glycolysis produces 2 net ATPs, 2 pyruvates, and 2 NADH.
Although only a small amount of ATP is produced, pyruvic acid retains significant energy.
What happens to pyruvic acid in the mitochondria?
Pyruvic acid is converted into acetyl CoA, with one carbon removed and CO2 released as a by-product.
This process also involves the formation of NADH.
What occurs in the citric acid cycle?
The citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) breaks down acetyl CoA, releasing CO2 and capturing electrons in NADH and FADH2.
This cycle produces 2 ATPs for each glucose molecule.
What is oxidative phosphorylation?
Oxidative phosphorylation is the process where electrons are transferred through the electron transport chain, leading to ATP production.
It occurs in the inner membrane of mitochondria.
What is the role of oxygen in cellular respiration?
Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, forming water as a by-product.
This is crucial for aerobic cellular respiration.
Define catabolism.
Catabolism refers to the breakdown of large molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the process.
It contrasts with anabolism, which requires energy to build molecules.
What is the relationship between glucose and ATP?
Glucose is broken down during cellular respiration to synthesize ATP, providing energy for cellular work.
This process involves a series of redox reactions.
What is NAD+ and its function?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an oxidizing agent that accepts electrons during respiration, becoming NADH.
It plays a key role in energy transfer.
What are the three stages of cellular respiration?
- Glycolysis
- Krebs Cycle
- Electron Transport Chain
Each stage contributes to the production of ATP and involves various biochemical processes.
What is the net energy yield from glycolysis?
The net energy yield from glycolysis is 2 ATP and 2 NADH.
No carbon is released as CO2 during this phase.
What is chemi-osmosis?
Chemi-osmosis is the process where ATP is synthesized as H+ ions flow back across the membrane through ATP synthase.
It relies on an existing H+ ion gradient.
What is the electron transport chain?
The electron transport chain is a series of protein complexes that transfer electrons and pump protons to create a gradient for ATP production.
It is essential for oxidative phosphorylation.
How is ATP synthesized during oxidative phosphorylation?
ATP is synthesized as electrons move through the electron transport chain, creating a proton gradient that drives ATP synthase.
This is the major source of ATP in aerobic organisms.
What is maintained by the electron transport chain?
H+ are pumped from matrix to inner membrane space
What is the process associated with the flow of H+ across the membrane?
chemi-osmosis
What is ATP synthase?
A multisubunit complex with 4 main parts, made up of polypeptides
How does ATP synthase catalyze ATP formation?
Spinning activity similar to a stream turning a water wheel
