BIO 205

Chapter 6, Part 2
Metabolism of Prokaryotic Cells
 Aerobic Respiration

C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 38ADP + 38P 6CO2 + 6H2O +38ATP

Three Processes:
• Glycolysis

• Krebs Cycle

• Oxidative Phosphorylation
The Krebs Cycle Extracts More Energy from Pyruvate.

The Krebs cycle is also called the citric acid cycle

Before entering the Krebs cycle, enzymes:

•Remove a carbon from each pyruvate
molecule.
•Combine the carbon with coenzyme A (CoA)
to form acetyl-CoA

•This releases 2 NADH and 2 CO2

The Krebs cycle is like a constantly turning wheel:

•Picking up pyruvate molecules from glycolysis

•Spitting out carbon dioxide, ATP, NADH, and FADH2

For each two pyruvate
molecules that enter
the cycle, the
following molecules
are formed:

•4 CO2
•2 ATP
•6 NADH
•2 FADH2
Totals

•4 ATP

•10 NADH

•2 FADH2
 Aerobic Respiration

C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 38ADP + 38P 6CO2 + 6H2O +38ATP

Three Processes:
• Glycolysis

• Krebs Cycle

• Oxidative Phosphorylation
 Oxidative Phosphorylation

•Oxidative PhosphorylationIs the Process by Which Most ATP

Molecules Form

•Pairs of electrons are passed from one chemical substance to

another (electron transport), releasing energy

•The energy released is used to combine phosphate with ADP to

form ATP

•The electron transport chain is composed of electron carriers

called cytochromes

•NADH and FADH2 provide the source electrons for oxidative

phosphorylation

•Oxygen accepts the electron pair at the end of the chain, acquires
2 protons, and becomes water
•As the electrons move down the chain they use energy, which is harnessed to
pump protons out of the cell (chemiosmosis)

•The protons outside the membrane build up a concentration gradient

•A channel opens and the protons flow in through a channel in ATP synthase
•ATP synthase harnesses the energy from the flowing protons to phosphorylate ADP
into ATP
Other Aspects of Catabolism

Other Nutrients Represent Potential

Energy Sources.

Many mono-, di-, and

polysaccharides can be energy
sources for prokaryotes

They must all be prepared

before being processed by:

•Glycolysis
•The Krebs cycle
•Oxidative phosphorylation
•Chemical bonds in fats store large amounts of energy,
making fats good energy sources

•Cells use proteins for energy when fats and

carbohydrates are lacking

•Deamination is the replacement of the amino group in

a protein with a carbonyl group in protein breakdown

•Fatty acids are broken down through beta oxidation

•Anaerobic Respiration Produces ATP Using Other
Final Electron Acceptors

•In anaerobic respiration, anaerobes use molecules

other than oxygen as the final e- receptor in the ETC

•Anaerobic respiration produces less ATP than

aerobic respiration
Fermentation Produces ATP Using an Organic Final Electron Receptor.
•Fermentation is used when oxygen and other alternative
electron acceptors are unavailable

•Pyruvate can be converted to lactic acid to reform NAD+

coenzymes so glycolysis can produce ATP from glucose
•Eukaryotes also perform fermentation, such as the yeast used in
alcoholic fermentation to create alcoholic beverages
 Patterns of Metabolism

•Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Get Their Energy and

Carbon in Different Ways.

•Autotrophs synthesize their own foods from simple

carbon sources like carbon dioxide.

•Photoautotrophs use light as their energy source.

•Chemoautotrophs use inorganic compounds as their

energy source.
•Heterotrophs gain energy and carbon from
outside sources.

•Photoheterotrophs use light as their energy

source and organic compounds as their source of
carbon.

•Chemoheterotrophs use organic compounds

both for energy and carbon sources.

•Saprobes feed exclusively on dead organic

matter.

•Parasites feed on living organic matter.

End of Chapter 6, Part 2