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Lecture Notes Intro To Cellular Respiration

lecture notes intro to cellular respiration dr. smith

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charles.bond.kelley
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16 views

Lecture Notes Intro To Cellular Respiration

lecture notes intro to cellular respiration dr. smith

Uploaded by

charles.bond.kelley
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as ODT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture Notes: Introduction to Cellular Respiration

Date: September 3, 2024


Instructor: Dr. Smith
Course: BIO 101 - General Biology

I. Overview of Cellular Respiration


• Definition: Cellular respiration is the process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen
into energy, in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), and produce carbon dioxide and
water as byproducts.
• Overall Equation:
C6H12O6+6O2→6CO2+6H2O+Energy (ATP)\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\
text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{Energy (ATP)}C6H12
O6+6O2→6CO2+6H2O+Energy (ATP)
• Glucose + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy (ATP)
II. Stages of Cellular Respiration
1. Glycolysis
• Occurs in the cytoplasm.
• Input: 1 Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆)
• Output: 2 Pyruvate, 2 ATP, 2 NADH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
• Key Points:
• Anaerobic process (does not require oxygen).
• Splits glucose into two 3-carbon molecules (pyruvate).
• ATP produced by substrate-level phosphorylation.
2. Pyruvate Oxidation
• Occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.
• Input: 2 Pyruvate
• Output: 2 Acetyl-CoA, 2 NADH, 2 CO₂
• Key Points:
• Pyruvate is converted into Acetyl-CoA.
• CO₂ is released as a byproduct.
3. Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)
• Occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.
• Input: 2 Acetyl-CoA
• Output: 4 CO₂, 6 NADH, 2 FADH₂, 2 ATP
• Key Points:
• Completes the breakdown of glucose.
• ATP is again produced by substrate-level phosphorylation.
• Electron carriers (NADH and FADH₂) store energy for the next stage.
4. Oxidative Phosphorylation (Electron Transport Chain and Chemiosmosis)
• Occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
• Input: NADH, FADH₂, O₂
• Output: ~32-34 ATP, H₂O
• Key Points:
• NADH and FADH₂ donate electrons to the Electron Transport Chain (ETC).
• Energy from electrons pumps protons (H⁺) across the membrane, creating a
gradient.
• Oxygen is the final electron acceptor, forming water.
• ATP is produced by chemiosmosis through ATP synthase.
III. Energy Yield of Cellular Respiration
• Total ATP Production:
• Glycolysis: 2 ATP
• Citric Acid Cycle: 2 ATP
• Oxidative Phosphorylation: ~32-34 ATP
• Total: ~36-38 ATP per molecule of glucose.
IV. Anaerobic Respiration and Fermentation
• Anaerobic Respiration:
• Occurs in the absence of oxygen.
• Less efficient; produces less ATP.
• Common in prokaryotes and in some eukaryotic cells under anaerobic conditions.
• Fermentation:
• Lactic Acid Fermentation: Occurs in muscle cells when oxygen is scarce. Pyruvate
is converted into lactic acid.
• Alcoholic Fermentation: Used by yeast and some bacteria. Pyruvate is converted
into ethanol and CO₂.
• ATP Yield: Only 2 ATP from glycolysis, no additional ATP produced in
fermentation.
V. Regulation of Cellular Respiration
• Feedback Inhibition:
• High levels of ATP inhibit the enzyme phosphofructokinase in glycolysis.
• Citrate and NADH also act as inhibitors in various steps.
• Role of Oxygen:
• Oxygen is critical as the final electron acceptor in the ETC.
• Lack of oxygen halts the ETC, backing up the entire process.

Next Lecture: We will discuss photosynthesis, which is essentially the reverse of cellular
respiration, and how it ties into the overall energy flow in ecosystems.
Assigned Reading:
• Campbell Biology, Chapter 9: Cellular Respiration and Fermentation.
Reminder:
• Quiz on Chapters 8 & 9 next Monday! Focus on the key processes and their regulation.

Questions or Clarifications:
• Why is glycolysis considered an ancient metabolic pathway?
• What happens to cellular respiration in the absence of oxygen?

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