Cellular respiration involves the oxidation and reduction of electron carriers to convert energy from food into a usable form. Glucose undergoes glycolysis to form pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP without oxygen. In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is further oxidized through the link reaction and Krebs cycle, reducing NAD+ and FAD to carry energy. These reduced carriers transfer electrons through the electron transport chain in the mitochondrial membrane, pumping protons out and building a proton gradient. Through chemiosmosis, protons diffuse back through ATP synthase to phosphorylate ADP and produce ATP, the energy currency of cells. The chemiosmotic theory proposed by Peter Mitchell led to a paradigm shift in understanding how
1. 8.2 Cell Respiration
Essential Idea: Energy is
converted to a usable
form in cell respiration.
Nature of Science:
Paradigm shift—the
chemiosmotic theory led
to a paradigm shift in the
field of bioenergetics.
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/bi
ocoach/images/cellresp/Overview.gif
Compiled By Darren Aherne
2. Statement Guidance
8.2 U1 Cell respiration involves the oxidation and
reduction of electron carriers.
8.2 U2 Phosphorylation of molecules makes them less
stable.
8.2 U3 In glycolysis, glucose is converted to pyruvate in
the cytoplasm.
The names of the intermediate
compounds in gylcolysis and the
Krebs cycle are not required.
8.2 U4 Glycolysis gives a small net gain of ATP without
the use of oxygen.
8.2 U5 In aerobic cell respiration pyruvate is
decarboxylated and oxidized, and converted
into acetyl compound and attached to
coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A in the
link reaction.
8.2 U6 In the Krebs cycle, the oxidation of acetyl
groups is coupled to the reduction of hydrogen
carriers, liberating carbon dioxide.
8.2 U7 Energy released by oxidation reactions is
carried to the cristae of the mitochondria by
reduced NAD and FAD.
3. 8.2 U8 Transfer of electrons between carriers in the electron
transport chain in the membrane of the cristae is coupled
to proton pumping.
8.2 U9 In chemiosmosis protons diffuse through ATP synthase to
generate ATP.
8.2 U10 Oxygen is needed to bind with the free protons to maintain
the hydrogen gradient, resulting in the formation of water.
8.2 U11 The structure of the mitochondrion is adapted to the
function it performs.
8.2 A1 Electron tomography used to produce images of active
mitochondria.
8.2 S1 Analysis of diagrams of the pathways of aerobic respiration
to deduce where decarboxylation and oxidation reactions
occur.
8.2 S2 Annotation of a diagram of a mitochondrion to indicate the
adaptations to its function.
4. 8.2 U1 Cell respiration involves the oxidation
and reduction of electron carriers.
Remember Oil Rig:
Oxidation
Is
Loss of electrons
Reduction
Is
Gain of electrons
Oxidation & reduction always happen
together- they involve the loss and gain of
electrons.
Example: Benedicts test- a test for
monosaccharides & reducing disaccharides.
Cu2+ is blue
In presence of reducing sugars, Cu2+ is
reduced by adding electrons
Cu is red or orange & insoluble
Image from: http://biology-
igcse.weebly.com/uploads/1/5/0/7/15070316/743953.jpg?43
7
5. Electron carriers: substances
that can accept and give up
electrons as needed.
• In cell respiration, the
electron carrier is NAD.
NAD
From PubChem
NAD + 2 electrons ïƒ reduced NAD
In more detail: Remember that hydrogen atoms consist of a proton and an
electron
NAD+ + 2H ïƒ NADH + H+
This shows that reduction can be a result of gaining hydrogen, because H has
an electron. Conversely, oxidation can be a result of losing hydrogen.
Gaining oxygen is oxidation, losing oxygen is reduction
6. 8.2 U2 Phosphorylation of molecules
makes them less stable.
Phosphorylation is gaining a phosphate molecule PO4
3-
• Phosphorylation makes molecules more unstable.
• Unstable molecules react more easily.
Phosphorylation of glucose- the 1st step of glycolysis
Notice that it is coupled with the hydrolysis of ATP
Image from http://www.namrata.co/wp-
content/uploads/2012/07/gly1.bmp
7. 8.2 U4 Glycolysis gives a small net gain of ATP without the use of oxygen.
8.2 U3 In glycolysis, glucose is converted to pyruvate in the cytoplasm.
Glycolysis is the splitting of a
glucose (6C) molecule in to 2
pyruvate (3C) molecules without
the use of oxygen.
• Costs 2 ATP in the
phosphorylation of the sugar
• Creates 4 ATP
• Net gain is 2 ATP
• 2 NADH are also created. These
are used later in the Krebs cycle
in the mitochondria.
Image from
http://preuniversity.grkraj.org/html/8_RESPIRATI
ON.htm
Guidance: The names of the intermediate compounds in gylcolysis
and the Krebs cycle are not required.
18. Watch this animation and video!!
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/007250
7470/student_view0/chapter25/animation__ho
w_glycolysis_works.html
Craig Savage on Cell Respiration
19. 8.2 U5 In aerobic cell respiration pyruvate is decarboxylated and
oxidized, and converted into acetyl compound and attached to
coenzyme A to form acetyl coenzyme A in the link reaction.
Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction that removes
a carboxyl group (-COOH) and releases CO2
In the presence of oxygen, the pyruvate is moved
into the mitochondrion where it is fully oxidized.
2 CH3—CO—COOH + 5 O2ïƒ 6 CO2 + 4 H2O
Carboxyl group is removed releases CO2
From pyruvate
(Pyruvate)
Reaction
summary
20. Oxydation of pyruvate occurs
because it loses two hydrogen atoms.
(remember that oxidation can
happen as a result of losing
hydrogens)
• These hydrogen atoms are
accepted by NAD+ and another
compound called FAD.
• NAD+ & FAD deliver these
hydrogens to the electron
transport chain where oxidative
phosphorylation occurs.
From Biology Course Companion, Allott & Mindorf,, Oxford
University Press, 2014, p. 383
23. The Link Reaction- links glycolysis to reactions that
follow in the mitochondria
In the link reaction pyruvate (3C) is converted into
acytyl coenzyme A (2C + CoA)
1. Pyruvate moves from
cytoplasm to the matrix of
a mitochondria
2. In the matrix, the pyruvate
is decarboxylated &
oxidized to form an acetyl
group
3. 2 high-energy electrons
are lost from pyruvate
4. The electrons join NAD+ to
make NADH
From http://sorokaapbiology1415.blogspot.tw/2014/09/cellular-respiration-all-you-
ever.html
25. 8.2 U6 In the Krebs cycle, the oxidation of acetyl groups is coupled
to the reduction of hydrogen carriers, liberating carbon dioxide.
The Krebs cycle involves two
more decarboxylations and 4
more oxidations following the link
reaction.
• Most energy released through
oxidations in the link reaction
& Krebs cycle is used to reduce
hydrogen carriers NAD+ & FAD.
From http://drchadedwards.com/244/energy-production-
through-the-krebs-cycle/
27. 8.2 U7 Energy released by oxidation reactions is carried to
the cristae of the mitochondria by reduced NAD and FAD.
The oxidations that occur during glycolysis, the link
reaction, & the Krebs cycles is coupled to the reduction of
NAD & some FAD. (FADH2 is produced in the Krebs cycle)
• Oxydative phosphorylation- ADP is phosphorylated to
produce ATP in the final stage of aerobic respiration
• Oxydative phosphorylation is the release of energy from
oxidation of FADH2 & NAD.
• These molecules carry energy from reactions of aerobic
respiration to the cristae of mitochondria.
• Oxydative phosphorylation is related to the electron
transport chain (ETC)
29. 8.2 U8 Transfer of electrons between carriers in the electron transport
chain in the membrane of the cristae is coupled to proton pumping.
From i-biology.net
34. 8.2 U9 In chemiosmosis protons diffuse through ATP synthase to generate ATP.
http://web.biosci.utexas.edu/psaxena/MicrobiologyAnimations/Ani
mations/ElectronTransport/PLAY_etc.html
42. Nature of Science: Paradigm shift—the chemiosmotic theory led
to a paradigm shift in the field of bioenergetics.
Peter Mitchell
From Nobelprize.org
Peter Mitchell, in 1961, proposed a new theory of
chemiosmotics, which was very different from
previously held beliefs.
• Electron transport in the inner mitochondrial
membrane is coupled with ATP synthesis.
• It took a long time for his theory to be accepted.
• He won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1978.
43. Thanks to these fine
folks, and any others
that I may have
forgotten!