THE CELLULAR RESPIRATION PAGE
 

I. Where does cellular respiration take place? 
        In the mitochondria. The mitochondria is a double-membrane structure.  The folded inner-membranes are called cristae and the fluid within the membrane is called the matrix.

II. What is the purpose of cellular respiration?
        To convert chemical energy into the chemical energy of ATP.  Organisms can only use ATP energy.

III. What are the steps in cellular respiration?
        1. Anaerobic respiration- Glycolysis-
                a. takes place in the cytoplasm
                b. breaks the glucose molecule in half
                c. requires 2 ATP for activation energy
                d. produces 4 ATP, for a net gain of 2 ATP
                e. converts glucose to pyruvic acid (pyruvate)
                f. some hydrogens are removed and taken to the ETC
                e. does not require oxygen
                f.  these are the primary reactions in fermentation
               g. Fermentation

        2. Aerobic respiration
                a. takes place in the mitochondria
                b. requires oxygen
                c. Steps:
                        1. Conversion of pyruvate to acetyl CoA-  if oxygen is available, pyruvate enters the mitochondria
                        2. Krebs Cycle- break down of the carbon chain- takes place in the matrix
                        3. Electron Transport Chain- (chemiosmosis)-
                                a. movement of electrons down a gradient to yield energy
                                b. takes place on the cristae

                        4. Oxydative Phosphorylation- formation of ATP molecules using the energy from ETC
                        5. Animated links:
                                a. Mitochondrial electron transport 
                                b. ATP synthase 
                                c. ATP synthase catalytic mechanism
Links:
1. How  Exercise  Works
2. Aerobic Respiration
3. Cellular Respiration Overview
4. Extracting Energy From Glucose
5. Game: Glycolysis Battleship



 

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©1998 Linda Pellegrini. All rights reserved.