Cellular Respiration Overview

The process of breaking down glucose to produce ATP in cells. It involves a series of reactions that extract energy from glucose, ultimately generating ATP, the main energy currency of cells.

A primary stage of cellular respiration where glucose is broken down into pyruvate, generating a small amount of ATP through substrate-level phosphorylation.

Metabolic reactions where a high-energy phosphate group is directly transferred from one molecule to another, generating ATP.

Proteins that accelerate biochemical reactions in cells, helping them occur at a faster rate. Various enzymes play important roles in specific steps of cellular respiration.

The first committed step in glycolysis, converting glucose into glucose-6-phosphate. This step requires ATP and makes glucose unable to leave the cell.

An important enzyme in glycolysis that catalyzes the addition of the second phosphate group to fructose-6-phosphate, committing the molecule to the glycolytic pathway.

A type of cellular respiration that requires oxygen as the final electron acceptor. It is the most efficient method of ATP production.

A type of cellular respiration that occurs in the absence of oxygen. It generates less ATP than aerobic respiration and produces byproducts like lactic acid or ethanol.

This process converts pyruvate into acetyl-CoA, which then enters the Citric Acid Cycle (CAC). It occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and is essential for aerobic respiration.

The Citric Acid Cycle (CAC) is a series of reactions that oxidizes acetyl-CoA, generating ATP, NADH, FADH2, and CO2. This cycle is a central part of aerobic respiration.

A process that regenerates NAD+ from NADH, allowing glycolysis to continue in the absence of oxygen. This occurs in certain organisms, like yeast and bacteria.

A series of protein complexes embedded in the mitochondrial membrane that uses the energy from NADH and FADH2 to pump protons across the membrane, creating an electrochemical gradient. This gradient is used to generate ATP.

A cellular process that uses electron transport chains to generate ATP, using oxygen as the final electron acceptor. It occurs within the mitochondria and releases a significant amount of energy, forming a crucial source of energy for the cell.

The process of converting pyruvate to lactate, regenerating NAD+ from NADH. This occurs during anaerobic respiration when oxygen is not available.

The body can use alternative sources of energy when glucose is scarce. These sources include other carbohydrates, fats, and even proteins.

A metabolic process where the liver converts non-carbohydrate precursors like pyruvate, lactate, and amino acids into glucose. This occurs when blood sugar levels are low.