Cell Respiration

The Three Major Reaction

Pathways of Aerobic Respiration
1.Glycolysis
2.Krebs Cycle
3.Electron Transport Phosphorylation
(Chemiosmosis)
*In between the Glycolysis and Krebs
Cycle is the Pyruvate Oxidation

Glycolysis
The goal of Glycolysis is to break
glucose down to form two pyruvates.
This happens in the Cytoplasm.
Glucose is broken down into two
Pyruvic Acid. This requires two ATPs.
This process produce 4 ATPs and 2
NADH.

Pyruvate Oxidation
Pyruvate is composed of three-carbon
chain. One of the carbons bonds with
Oxygen to produce Carbon Dioxide.
Leaving behind a Two-Carbon Molecule.
This Two-Carbon Molecule is oxidized,
and thus lose electrons. These electrons
are picked up by NAD+ to form NADH.

Pyruvate Oxidation
The
oxidized
two-carbon
molecule - an acetyl group - is
attached to Coenzyme A
(molecule derived from vitamin
B5) to form acetyl CoA.

Krebs Cycle
The goal of the Krebs Cycle is
produce NADH and FADH2.

Krebs Cycle
Acetyl
CoA
joins
four-carbon
molecule oxaloacetic acid to form
six-carbon molecule Citric Acid.
Citric Acid is then oxidized,
releasing
Carbon
as
Carbon
Dioxide, and at the same time
producing NADH molecules.

Krebs Cycle
This process will continue until Citric
Acid reverts to oxaloacetic acid.
Then the process restarts.
Energy is produced whenever
Carbon is removed from Citric Acid.

Electron Transfer Chain

The goal of the ETC is to break down
NADH and FADH2, pumping H+ into
the
outer
compartment
of
the
mitochondria.
This pumping allows ATP Synthase to
produce
ATPs,
similar
to
how
hydroelectric plants produce electricity.