Metabolism: Steps of Aerobic Respiration - P2
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Aerobic Respiration Sources & Resources
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Electron Transport Chain
The most significant production of ATP
occurs through a stepwise release of energy from a series of oxidation-reduction reactions in the
The electron transport chain consists of several membrane-bound carrier molecules that pass electrons from one to another and ultimately to final electron acceptor, oxygen (O2). We need to breathe in oxygen in order to complete electron transport.
Protons can move back across the mitochondrial membrane, flowing down this gradient, with the help of ATP synthase, and enzyme that phosphorylates (adds a phosphate) to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), creating adensoine triphosphate ATP.
By the end of aerobic cellular respiration, a total of 38 molecules of ATP are formed from one molecule of glucose.
Energy from electrons is used to pump protons (H+) across the inner membrane of the mitochondria into the intermembrane space, establishing a proton gradient, a difference in ion concentration on either side of a membrane. Proton gradients have potential energy available for cellular work.
Table Summarizing the Four Subpathways of Aerobic Respiration
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