How Cellular Respiration Works

(What the heck IS cellular respiration?)

The EXACT OPPOSITE
OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
!!!!!!!!
ALL living things obtain energy from
cellular respiration.

• Cells break down glucose and obtain ATP.

– ATP is THE energy storing molecule of cells.
• Electrons are stripped from glucose are
made to form ATP.
OVERVIEW of cellular respiration
• CH2O + O2  CO2 + H2O + 36ATP
carbohydrate + oxygen  carbon + water + energy
(sugars) dioxide
 Cellular Respiration Take Two Steps
• 1. Glucose is • When O2 is present,
converted to O2 pyruvate and NADH
PYRUVATE are used to produce
producing a a large amount of
small amount 2. ATP.
of ATP and
NADH.
(NADH is an •When O2 is NOT
electron carrier present, pyruvate is
molecule) converted to lactic acid
or alcohol.
Step 1 - Glycolysis
• Glycolysis happens in the CYTOPLASM
of the cell.
• Very little ATP is made here.
• Means “ splitting sugars”
Step 1 – GLYCOLYSIS continued
• 6-carbon Glucose is split into 2 molecules of 3-carbon
pyvuvate. This uses some ATP and makes some ATP.
• NET production = 2 ATP and 2 NADH.
Step 2 - WITH OXYGEN
• Called AEROBIC RESPIRATION
• Happens in the MITOCHONDRIA
• Produces LOTS of ATP
Step 2 - continued
• KREBS CYCLE - in the matrix
of the mitochondria
• Series of reactions that produces:

• ATP
• electron carriers (NADH) and (FADH2),
• and carbon dioxide.
 Pyruvate
NAD+
CO2
NADH Acetyl
Co-A
Acetyl Co-A
4-Carbon
NADH 6-Carbon
NAD+
NAD+
FADH2 NADH
FAD+ 4-Carbon
5-Carbon

NAD+
NADH
CO2
ATP ADP
STEP 3
Electron Transport Chain (ETC) of the
Mitochondria

• NADH and FADH2 move into the

mitochondrial membrane--- carrying their
energy to deliver to the final acceptor ---
OXYGEN!
• This energy drives the production of ATP
across the membrane proteins ---
“CHEMIOSMOSIS” -
• (Chemicals moving across a membrane)
• Makes 32 ATP !!!!!!!!!!!!
 SO …..If Oxygen is present….
GLUCOSE
Glycolysis = 2 ATP

Pyruvate Pyruvate

Krebs Cycle Krebs Cycle Krebs Cycle = 2 ATP

E.T.C. ETC = 32 ATP

TOTAL = 36 ATP MADE FROM ONE GLUCOSE

MOLECULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What Happens When Oxygen isn’t there?
• In absence of oxygen – NADH and
FADH2 have nowhere to go. (remember,
oxygen is supposed to collect their
energy in the ETC)
• CALLED = ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION
• SO- pyruvate FERMENTS.
• In animals, pyruvate forms LACTIC ACID
–
• - not enough ATP to muscles = cramps
• In plants and yeast, pyruvate forms
ETHYL ALCOHOL
How Cells break down other types of
molecules in this order:
• 1st - simple sugars (Glucose, Sucrose)
• 2nd – complex carbohydrates
• 3rd – fats (lipids)
• 4th – proteins
• 5th – nucleic acids (like DNA)