Energy Transfer - Respiration: Key Terms Flashcards
Aerobic
The presence of free oxygen
Anaerobic
Absence of oxygen
Glycolysis
First part of cellular respiration in which glucose is broken down anaerobically in the cytoplasm to two molecules of pyruvate
Krebs cycle
Series of aerobic biochemical reactions in the matrix of mitochondria of most eukaryotic cells by which energy is obtained through the oxidation of acetylcoenzyme A produced from the breakdown of glucose
Substrate level phosphorylation
The formation of ATP by the direct transfer of a phosphate group from a reactive intermediate to ADP
Phosphorylation
Process which makes glucose more reactive by adding 2 phosphate molecules
FAD
A hydrogen carrier molecule which is important in the Krebs cycle
NAD
A hydrogen carrier molecule which is important throughout respiration
Pyruvate
2 molecules of this are produced by glycolysis. If there is no oxygen present then it will be converted into either lactate or ethanol during anaerobic respiration. If oxygen is present it will be actively transported into the matrix of the mitochondria where it is oxidised to acetate.
Link reaction
Process linking Glycolysis to the Krebs Cycle (in the matrix of the mitochondria), where the 2 molecules of pyruvate are converted to CO2 and acetylcoenzyme A. 2 NAD molecules are reduced to form reduced NAD.
Acetyl coenzyme A
Formed in the link reaction when coenzyme A combines with acetate (2C)
Oxidative phosphorylation
The formation of ATP in the electron transport system of aerobic respiration
Electron transfer chain
Use of electrons from the Krebs Cycle to synthesise ATP via a series of oxidation-reduction reactions
ATP synthase
An enzyme which is embedded in the inner membrane of the mitochondria through which protons pass through and cause changes to the structure of the enzyme which then catalyses the combination of ADP with inorganic phosphate to form ATP
