Mitochondria and Respiration Flashcards
(135 cards)
What do living cells require to do work?
Living cells require energy from outside sources to do work (ATP POWERS WORK)
What does the work of the cell include?
The work of the cell includes assembling polymers, membrane transport, moving, and reproducing
How do animals obtain energy to do work?
Animals can obtain energy to do this work by feeding on other animals or photosynthetic organisms
How do catabolic pathways generate heat?
Catabolic pathways release stored energy by breaking down complex molecules
What plays a main role in catabolic pathways?
Electron transfer plays a major role in these pathways
Is the breakdown of organic molecules exergonic or endergonic?
Exergonic, release of energy
What is fermentation?
Fermentation is a partial degradation of sugars that occurs without O2
What is the purpose of the transfer of electrons during chemical reactions
The transfer of electrons during chemical reactions releases energy stored in organic molecules This released energy is ultimately used to synthesize ATP
What is the purpose of the transfer of electrons during chemical reactions and what are these reactions known as?
The transfer of electrons during chemical reactions releases energy stored in organic molecules. This released energy is ultimately used to synthesize ATP They are known as - redox reactions
Give the chemical formula for respiration
Although carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are all consumed as fuel, it is helpful to trace cellular respiration with the sugar glucose C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy (ATP + heat)
During cellular respiration, what is oxidised and reduced and what does the redox reaction do?
The fuel (such as glucose) is oxidized, and O2 is reduced Energy is released as the electrons associated with hydrogen ions are transferred to oxygen, a lower energy state
Organic molecules with an abundance of hydrogen are excellent sources of high-energy electrons, why?
Because their bonds are a source of “hilltop” electrons, whose energy is released when they are transferred to oxygen
Why do oxidation/reduction always go together?
Because you always need a donor and a reciever for the electrons
How do redox reactions work on covalent bonds?
They add/reduce the electronegativity of molecules to pull the electrons in one direction or another. One side becomes slight oxidized, other slightly reduced.
Why do redox reactions yield chemical energy?
If the redox reaction relocates electrons closer to a more electronegative atom, the atom loses potential energy (it releases energy)
How does respiration yield energy?
It oxidizes glucose, freeing up stored energy from glucose that is available for ATP synthesis.
Electrons from organic compounds are first transfered to what?
Electrons from organic compounds are usually first transferred to NAD+, a coenzyme
What is the function of NAD+?
As an electron acceptor, NAD+ functions as an oxidizing agent during cellular respiration
What is NADH?
Each NADH (the reduced form of NAD+) represents stored energy that is tapped to synthesize ATP NADH passes the electrons to the electron transport chain
Is the electron transport chain a controlled or uncontrolled reaction?
Unlike an uncontrolled reaction, the electron transport chain passes electrons in a series of steps instead of one explosive reaction
How is energy then produced from the electron chain?
O2 pulls electrons down the chain in an energy-yielding tumble The energy yielded is used to regenerate ATP
How does the Ea barrier help in cellular respiration?
It prevents electrons from immediately rushing in and bonding wiht oxygen, allowing the sugar to be oxidized in a series of steps.
What is NAD+?
A coenzyme that hydrogen atoms are transferred to before being transferred to the oxygen
How does NAD+ trap electrons from glucose and other organic molecules and act as an oxidation agent?
Enzymes called dehydrogenases remove a pair of hydrogen atoms from the substrate, thereby oxidizing it. The enzyme delivers the two electrons along with only ONE of the protons to its coenzyme NAD+. The other proton is released as a hydrogen ion into the surrounding solution.