Cellular respiration is the powerhouse of energy production in cells. It breaks down glucose through a series of stages, each contributing to ATP generation. From glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation , this process fuels cellular activities.
Energy flows through respiration like a well-orchestrated dance. Glucose is split, oxidized, and its energy harvested through electron transport. The result? A whopping 38 ATP molecules per glucose, powering life's essential functions.
Cellular Respiration
Stages of cellular respiration
Top images from around the web for Stages of cellular respiration Glycolysis | Boundless Biology View original
Is this image relevant?
Carbohydrate Metabolism · Anatomy and Physiology View original
Is this image relevant?
Glycolysis | Boundless Microbiology View original
Is this image relevant?
Glycolysis | Boundless Biology View original
Is this image relevant?
Carbohydrate Metabolism · Anatomy and Physiology View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Stages of cellular respiration Glycolysis | Boundless Biology View original
Is this image relevant?
Carbohydrate Metabolism · Anatomy and Physiology View original
Is this image relevant?
Glycolysis | Boundless Microbiology View original
Is this image relevant?
Glycolysis | Boundless Biology View original
Is this image relevant?
Carbohydrate Metabolism · Anatomy and Physiology View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Glycolysis breaks glucose into pyruvate in cytoplasm, net gain 2 ATP and 2 NADH
Pyruvate oxidation converts pyruvate to acetyl-CoA in mitochondrial matrix, produces NADH
Krebs cycle oxidizes acetyl-CoA to CO2 in mitochondrial matrix, yields 2 ATP, 6 NADH, 2 FADH2 per glucose
Oxidative phosphorylation generates ATP through electron transport chain and chemiosmosis in inner mitochondrial membrane, produces up to 34 ATP per glucose
Energy flow in respiration processes
Glycolysis splits 6-carbon glucose into two 3-carbon pyruvate molecules, net energy gain 2 ATP and 2 NADH
Krebs cycle completely oxidizes acetyl-CoA (2C) to CO2, generates 2 ATP, 6 NADH, 2 FADH2 per glucose
Oxidative phosphorylation harvests energy from NADH and FADH2, electrons flow through ETC
Proton gradient drives ATP synthase , producing bulk of ATP (~34 molecules per glucose)
Light reactions vs dark reactions
Light-dependent reactions occur in thylakoid membranes , require light energy
Split water molecules (photolysis )
Excite electrons in chlorophyll
Drive electron flow through photosystems I and II
Produce ATP and NADPH
Light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle ) happen in stroma, don't directly need light
Use ATP and NADPH from light reactions
Fix CO2 into glucose using RuBisCO enzyme
Regenerate carbon acceptor molecule (RuBP )
Redox reactions in energy conversion
Cellular respiration oxidizes glucose, releases energy
NAD+ and FAD act as electron acceptors, reduced to NADH and FADH2
Electron transport chain uses redox reactions to pump protons, create gradient
Photosynthesis uses light energy to drive electron excitation in chlorophyll
Electrons flow through photosystems and ETC, reducing NADP+ to NADPH
Water oxidized to provide electrons and protons, releases O2 as byproduct