L2: Aerobic respiration Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is the main difference between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of glucose?
Aerobic metabolism requires oxygen and fully breaks down glucose into CO2 and H2O, producing more ATP while anaerobic metabolism occurs without oxygen, leading to incomplete breakdown and fewer ATP molecules.
What is the end product of glycolysis?
For 1 molecule of glucose, the end products are 2 molecules of pyruvate
In glycolysis what are the products formed from 1 glucose molecule?
2 NADH molecules, 2 ATP molecules, 2 Pyruvate and 2 H+ ions
Site of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism
Aerobic: mitochondria
Anaerobic: Cytosol
What happens to pyruvate in the presence of oxygen after glycolysis?
When oxygen is present, it undergoes the aerobic metabolic pathway where it is converted into Acetyl-CoA through pyruvate processing.
What are the primary products of Krebs cycle for 1 Acetyl-CoA molecule?
3 NADH, 1 GTP (form of ATP), 1 FADH2 and 2 CO2 molecules.
Why is the Krebs cycle considered a “cyclic” metabolic pathway?
Because the starting reactant/molecule, oxaloacetate, is regenerated at the end of each cycle.
What is the role of the electron transport chain in aerobic respiration?
It sets up a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis through chemiosmosis.
Which complexes in the electron transport chain pumps porotns to create the gradient?
Complexes I, III, IV
What is the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain?
Oxygen which forms water after accepting electrons and protons (H+ ions)
How does ATP synthase generate ATP?
As H+ ions move through ATP synthase, it causes it to rotate and spin, which generates energy that is used to form ATP from ADP and Pi within the mitochondria matrix.
What happens if oxygen is not available in the electron transport chain?
The chain cannot function, stopping ATP production and leading to cell fermentation.
How many ATP molecules are produced per glucose molecule in aerobic respiration in prokaryotes?
38 molecules of ATP.
