Intro to Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration compliment each other perfectly

-The reactants of one are the products of the other and the products of one are the reactants of the other

Remember our formulas for endergonic and exergonic reactions?

Are they starting to make more sense now?

First watch this animating explaining the big picture of cellular respiration

Cellular Respiration: The Big Picture

In order for cells to function and for metabolic reactions to continue a cell needs a continuous supply of chemical energy.

-That chemical energy is in the form of ATP

-The Mitochondria makes all the ATP for a cells metabolic processes

Glucose is a key energy-storage molecule

-Glycogen (Long chains of glucose)

-Fat

Glucose Breakdown

-The first stage in glucose breakdown is Glycolysis

-Glyco which is Greek for sweet and Lysis Greek for to split

-Glycolysis is the splitting of glucose

-Glucose is a 6 carbon sugar it is split into two pyruvates

-Pyruvate is a 3 carbon sugar

-Glycolysis happens in the cytoplasm

-Glycolysis makes 4 ATP but two of them are used in the process so only two ATP are saved

After Glycolysis

-After glycolysis there are two options for the pyruvate

-If there is oxygen present the pyruvate goes through aerobic (with air) respiration

-Aerobic respiration takes place in the mitochondria also known as cellular respiration

-If there is no oxygen present then the pyruvate cannot enter the mitochondria and instead goes through anaerobic

respiration

-Anaerobic (without oxygen) respiration takes place in the cytoplasm.

-There are two types of anaerobic respiration also known as fermentation

-Alcohol fermentation

-Lactic Acid fermentation (animals)

The basics of glucose breakdown