Cell Respiration

The process by which cells turn food

molecules into
cell energy
 The Complete breakdown of foods
occurs in aerobic respiration
The general reaction of aerobic respiration is:
glucose + O2  CO2 + H2O + ATP + heat

• This reaction occurs in steps:

– Glycolysis
– Transition reaction
– Krebs Cycle
– Electron Transport Chain
Glycolysis

• Occurs in the cytoplasm

• Splits a 6-carbon sugar into 2
x 3-C pyruvates
• Reaction sequence:
Sugar (6C)  2 Pyruvates (3C)
• Produces:
– 2 ATP molecules
– 2 NADH2
Transition reaction

• Processes pyruvate so that it

can enter mitochondrion
• The reaction sequence:
2 pyruvate (3C)  2 acetyl (2C)
• Produces:
– 2 NADH2
• 2 acetyl groups easily enter the
mitochondrion of the cell
Transition between cytoplasm
and mitochondrion
Krebs Cycle

• Occurs in the cytoplasm of

the mitochondria (stroma)
• Cyclical series of reactions
which breaks down acetyls
releasing CO2
• Produces:
– 2 ATP’s
– 6 NADH2
– 2 FADH2
 Up to this point, the entire molecule of glucose
has been broken down to form 6 CO2’s

Yet, only 4
ATP’s have
been formed
during:
•Glycolysis
•Transition &
Potential energy of
NADH2 and FADH2 •Krebs Cycle
can be released in
Electron Transport
Chain
Electron Transport Chain – harvests
potential energy of NAD and FAD coenzymes

Occurs along inner membrane (cristae) of mitochondrion

Overall Energy Harvest of Aerobic
Cell Respiration

Much more
ATP than the
4 molecules
received
through Gly,
Trans, and
Krebs!!
We metabolize more than sugars!!
Can cells produce ATP without
oxygen being present?
• Oxygen removes e-’s
from the Electron
Transport Chain to
help make ATP
• If oxygen is not
present, NADH2 must
be oxidized to NAD+
to allow cells to make
ATP
Animal cells engage in
fermentation
• Fermentation allows
NAD+ to be recycled

• Fermentation produces 2
ATP’s per molecule of
glucose broken down

• Glucose is not
completely broken down
 Plant and fungal cells
engage in fermentation
• This process also
allows NAD+ to be
recycled
• Produces 2 ATP’s per
molecule of glucose
broken down
• Glucose is not
completely broken
down
Fermentations produce
many foods and drinks!
• Dairy fermentations
– Cheeses
– Yogurts
– Sour cream
• Fermented foods
– Breads
– Tofu and tempeh
– Pickles, sauerkraut
• Fermented beverages
– Wines, beers, ales