Homework: Respiration

a) The production of ATP from the process of cell respiration involves three stages.
The first stage is glycolysis which occurs in the cytoplasm. Initially, glucose is
phosphorylated into a 6-caron sugar yielding two ADP molecules. The
phosphorylated 6-carbon sugar is then converted into two glyceraldehyde-3phosphates (GALP). The two GALP molecules are then converted into two
pyruvates forming four ATP molecules and two reduced NAD molecules. This
results in the net production of two ATP molecules and two reduced NAD
molecules.
The next stage is the Link Reaction where the pyruvates produced in glycolysis
enter the mitochondrion. The pyruvate combines with coenzymes A to form acetyl
coenzyme A. Carbon dioxide is produced and NAG is reduced as it picks up
hydrogen. Acetyl coA enters the Krebs Cycle which occurs in the matrix of the
mitochondrion. Acetyl coA combines with oxaloacetate to form citrate. Citrate is
converted to a 5C compound, during which carbon dioxide is released and
reduced NAD is formed as H atoms combine with NAD. The 5C compound is
converted to succinate where the synthesis of ATP occurs and carbon dioxide is
released and NAD is reduced. Succinate is converted into another 4C compound
and the H atoms released combine with FAD to form reduced FAD. The 4C
compound is converted into oxaloacetate and the H atoms released combine with
NAD to form reduced NAD.
The reduced FAD and NAD produced as a result of oxidation now pass to the
electron transport chains located on the inner membranes of the mitochondrion.
The H is removed from NAD and FAD and is split into H and electrons. The
electrons pass from one molecule to the next on the electron transport chain
through a series of redox reactions. At each transfer a small amount of energy is
released. This energy is used to pump H ions through the inner mitochondrial
membrane into the space between the inner and outer membrane. The H
concentration increases, forming an electrochemical gradient. This means that the
H ions have electrical potential energy. H then flows back down the gradient
into the matrix through protein channels managed by enzymes ATP synthase,
which uses the energy to synthesise ATP. Oxygen acts as the final electron
acceptor in the chain, so the oxygen, electrons and H ions combine together to
form water.

b)