Cellular Respiration
You can now identify the main components, explain the mechanism step by step, interpret an observation and distinguish related ideas.
Big idea
Glycolysis splits glucose in the cytoplasm into pyruvate, producing a small ATP yield and reduced carriers. Pyruvate-derived acetyl groups enter a mitochondrial cycle that releases carbon dioxide and loads electron carriers.
Learning goals
- Glycolysis: Glycolysis splits glucose in the cytoplasm into pyruvate, producing a small ATP yield and reduced carriers.
- Link reaction and Krebs cycle: Pyruvate-derived acetyl groups enter a mitochondrial cycle that releases carbon dioxide and loads electron carriers.
- Electron transport chain: Electrons move through inner-membrane proteins that pump protons and create an electrochemical gradient.
- Chemiosmosis: Protons flow through ATP synthase, coupling the gradient to phosphorylation of ADP.
- Oxygen and energy yield: Oxygen is the final electron acceptor, allowing continued electron flow and high ATP yield.
Core concepts
1. Glycolysis
Glycolysis splits glucose in the cytoplasm into pyruvate, producing a small ATP yield and reduced carriers.
Observation: Glycolysis can begin energy release before oxygen-dependent stages.
2. Link reaction and Krebs cycle
Pyruvate-derived acetyl groups enter a mitochondrial cycle that releases carbon dioxide and loads electron carriers.
Observation: Carbon atoms leave as carbon dioxide while NADH and FADH2 carry high-energy electrons.