226 The Biochemistry of Respiration 311

Key Idea: During cell respiration, the energy in glucose is acetyl CoA links glycolysis to the Krebs cycle. One "turn"
transferred to ATP in a series of enzyme controlled steps. of the cycle releases carbon dioxide, forms one ATP, and
The oxidation of glucose is a catabolic, energy yielding passes electrons to three NAD+ and one FAD. Most of the
pathway. The breakdown of glucose and other organic fuels ATP generated in cellular respiration is produced by oxidative
(such as fats and proteins) to simpler molecules releases phosphorylation when NADH + H+ and FADH2 donate
energy for ATP synthesis. Glycolysis and the Krebs cycle electrons to the series of electron carriers in the electron
supply electrons to the electron transport chain, which drives transport chain. At the end of the chain, electrons are passed
oxidative phosphorylation. Glycolysis nets two ATP. The to molecular oxygen, reducing it to water. Electron transport
conversion of pyruvate (the end product of glycolysis) to is coupled to ATP synthesis.
Glycogen Glucose (6C) (a) Glycolysis (cytoplasm)
The first part of respiration that involves the
breakdown of glucose in the cytoplasm. Glucose
Fats phosphorylated (a 6-carbon sugar) is broken into two molecules
Glycerol 2 ADP of pyruvate (also called pyruvic acid), a 3-carbon
6C sugar
(hexose acid. A total of 2 ATP and 2NADH + 2H+ are
bisphosphate) 4 ATP are produced generated from this stage. No oxygen is required
but 2 are used, so there (the process is anaerobic).
is a net 2 ATP
Two molecules of pyruvate are produced
2 x 3C 2 ATP per glucose molecule. From this stage, the
triose processing of only one pyruvate is shown.
Proteins phosphate
Link reaction (mitochondrial matrix)
Amino acids Pyruvate* (b) The link reaction is also called the transition
reaction. Pyruvate enters the mitochondrion and
carbon dioxide is removed. Coenzyme A (CoA)
1C lost as NADH + H+ picks up the remaining 2-carbon fragment of the
carbon dioxide pyruvate to form acetyl coenzyme A.

Fatty acids Acetyl Coenzyme A (c)

Other molecules (above)

When glucose is in short supply,
other organic molecules can NAD+ and FAD are hydrogen acceptors,
provide alternative respiratory NADH + H+ and transport hydrogens to the electron
substrates (molecules that are CoA transport chain. NAD+ is reduced to NADH
used in cellular respiration to + H+ (often written just as NADH). FAD is
derive energy through oxidation). reduced to FADH2.
(d)
citrate NADH + H+
oxaloacetate
(f) Krebs cycle (mitochondrial matrix)
The acetyl group passes into a cyclic reaction
Krebs cycle and combines with a 4-carbon molecule
2C lost as to form a 6-carbon molecule. The CoA is
carbon dioxide (e) released for reuse. Successive steps in the
cycle remove carbon as carbon dioxide.
α-ketoglutarate 1
2 O2
Electron transport chain Oxygen is used
ATP 2NADH + 2H+
e- e- as a terminal
electron acceptor
*FADH2
Electron transport chain (mitochondrial cristae)
Hydrogen pairs are transferred to the electron transport chain, a 17 ADP 17 ATP 2H+ Water
series of hydrogen and electron carriers, located on the cristae.
The hydrogens or electrons are passed from one carrier to the
next, in a series of redox reactions, losing energy as they go. The
energy released in this stepwise process is used to phosphorylate Total ATP yield per glucose
ADP to form ATP. Oxygen is the final electron acceptor and is Glycolysis: 2 ATP, Krebs cycle: 2 ATP, Electron transport: 34 ATP
reduced to water (hence the term oxidative phosphorylation).
Note FAD enters the electron transport chain at a lower energy
level than NAD, and only 2ATP are generated per FADH2. The theoretical maximum yield of 38 ATP per mole of glucose has
recently been revised down to 32 ATP (28 from the ETC).
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KNOW
312
Mitochondria (sing. mitochondrion) are
organelles found in most eukaryotic cells.
They vary in diameter from
0.5 - 1.0 µm, and can be quite long in
comparison to their diameter. Mitochondria

Cristae
Mitochondrion
Matrix
Heart muscle cell
Cytoplasm Cells that require a lot of ATP for cellular processes
have a lot of mitochondria. Sperm cells contain
a large number of mitochondria near the base of
Longitudinal
the tail. Liver cells have around 2000 mitochondria
Mitochondria are the site of most of a cell's ATP section of per cell, taking up 25% of the cytoplasmic space.
production by providing the location for the Krebs mitochondrion. Heart muscle cells (above) may have 40% of the
cycle and the electron transport chain. cytoplasmic space taken up by mitochondria.

Location of Cellular Respiration Mitochondrion

Outer membrane Electron transport chain

Cytoplasm Inner membrane
H H
+ + H+
H+
H+ H+
H+
H+

O2 H2O
6 NADH + H+ + 2 FADH2
H+
2 NADH + H+ 2 NADH + H+
ATP synthase
Glucose 2 pyruvate 2 Acetyl- Krebs 4CO2
CoA cycle 34 ATP
2 ATP 2CO2
Glycolysis Link reaction 2 ATP
Matrix

1. In the longitudinal section of a mitochondrion (above), label the matrix and cristae.
2. Explain the purpose of the link reaction:

3. On the diagram of cell respiration (previous page), state the number of carbon atoms in each of the molecules (a)-(f):
4. How many ATP molecules per molecule of glucose are generated during the following stages of respiration?
(a) Glycolysis: (b) Krebs cycle: (c) Electron transport chain: (d) Total:
5. Explain what happens to the carbon atoms lost during respiration:
6. Explain what happens during oxidative phosphorylation:

© 2012-2014 BIOZONE International

ISBN: 978-1-927173-93-0
Photocopying Prohibited