Cellular Respiration: The Role of Reduced Coenzymes

Why are mitochondria unable to import NADH formed in the cytosol during glycolysis?

What is the primary product of the TCS pathway?

What is the purpose of the malate-aspartate shuttle and glycerol phosphate shuttle?

What is the location of the electron-transport chain?

What is the result of the energy-releasing reactions in the electron-transport chain?

What is the terminal electron acceptor in the electron-transport chain?

What is the role of the ATP-synthesizing enzyme in the chemiosmotic mechanism?

How many molecules of ATP are formed from the energy released by each pair of electrons transferred from NADH to oxygen?

What is the net gain of ATPs formed from one molecule of glucose completely catabolized by means of glycolysis and the TCA cycle?

What determines the actual number of ATPs formed per molecule of glucose oxidized?

What is the energy source that drives the formation of ATP from ADP?

Reduced Coenzymes and ATP Formation

Primary products of the TCS pathway are reduced coenzymes FADH2 and NADH.
NADH is also a product of glycolysis, produced in the cytosol, but mitochondria cannot import it directly.
Instead, NADH enters mitochondria indirectly through malate-aspartate shuttle or glycerol phosphate shuttle.

Electron Transport Chain and ATP Synthesis

High-energy electrons from FADH2 or NADH are passed to the electron-transport chain in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Electrons pass along the electron-transport chain, releasing energy through a series of reactions.
Energy from these reactions is stored in the form of an electrochemical gradient of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Eventually, low-energy electrons are transferred to molecular oxygen (O2), reducing it to water.

ATP Formation through Chemiosmosis

Controlled movement of protons back across the membrane through an ATP-synthesizing enzyme provides energy for phosphorylating ADP to ATP
This process occurs through the chemiosmotic mechanism

Electron Transport Chain and ATP Formation

Each pair of electrons transferred from NADH to oxygen releases energy to form approximately 3 molecules of ATP
Each pair of electrons donated by FADH2 releases energy to form approximately 2 molecules of ATP

ATP Yield from Glucose Catabolism

One molecule of glucose, completely catabolized through glycolysis and the TCA cycle, yields a net gain of approximately 36 ATPs
This includes the GTP formed by each round of the TCA cycle
The actual number of ATPs formed per molecule of glucose oxidized depends on the cell's specific activities

Learn about the importance of coenzymes FADH2 and NADH in the formation of ATP during cellular respiration. This quiz covers the electron transport chain and the role of mitochondria in energy production.