General Biology 1 Cellular Respiration Quiz

Cellular Respiration Overview

• Main function of cellular respiration is to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
• Energy for almost all ecosystems originates from sunlight, captured during photosynthesis, and then transferred through food chains.

Mitochondrial Function

• Primary role of mitochondria in cellular respiration is to serve as the site for ATP production through metabolic processes.

Respiratory Concepts

• Fundamental function of cellular respiration is to provide energy for cellular activities by breaking down glucose and other substrates.
• In the breathing sense, respiration refers to the physical process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

Cellular Locations

• Most cellular respiration processes occur in the mitochondria, specifically within the matrix and inner mitochondrial membrane.
• Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm, breaking down glucose into pyruvate, which is then used in aerobic or anaerobic pathways.

Glycolysis and the Citric Acid Cycle

• The main purpose of glycolysis is to produce energy in the form of ATP and NADH while breaking down glucose.
• Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs cycle) occurs in the mitochondrial matrix and further processes acetyl CoA to produce energy carriers.

Key Molecules in Cellular Respiration

• NAD+ plays a crucial role as an electron carrier in cellular respiration, being reduced to NADH during the oxidation of glucose.
• FADH2 serves a similar function as NADH, transporting electrons to the electron transport chain.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

• The purpose of oxidative phosphorylation is to generate ATP through the energy released by electrons passing through the electron transport chain.
• Chemiosmosis involves the movement of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, driving ATP synthesis via ATP synthase.

Electron Transport Chain

• The electron transport chain functions to transfer electrons through a series of proteins, ultimately facilitating the creation of a proton gradient.
• The final electron acceptor in cellular respiration is molecular oxygen, which combines with electrons and protons to form water.

Citric Acid Cycle Products

• Main products of the Citric Acid Cycle include ATP, NADH, FADH2, and carbon dioxide.

Function of ATP Synthase

• The primary role of ATP synthase in cellular respiration is to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during chemiosmosis.

Role of Enzymes

• Important enzyme, often associated with glycolysis, oxidizes glucose and becomes reduced to NADH, facilitating energy extraction.