Cellular Processes

Respiration

Cellular Respiration is important

because:
It

is the only way to avoid

spontaneous human combustion
(SHC).
A working muscle needs 10 million
ATP molecules per second.
Cellular respiration will come up in
the end of year exam!

Respiration release of
energy from food
Respiration

is the release of energy from food.

Do

not confuse it with the term breathing which is the

physical movement required to get gas across a
membrane.

The

three energy foods are carbohydrates, fats and

proteins, but the cells cannot get their energy directly
from these foods. The energy contained in these complex
molecules sits in the bonds that keep the molecules
together. When the bonds are broken the energy is
released.

This

happens in the process of burning.

Mitochondrion Structure

Respiration release of
energy from food
Burning:
Fuel (carbohydrate)+ air (oxygen)
fire
wastes (water vapour, carbon dioxide) +
energy (heat and light)
This

process cannot be carried out in a cell.

The food molecules contain so much energy that if it all

was released at ones the cell would catch on fire.

The

energy from glucose is released step by step

where each step is guided by an enzyme (instead
of burning).

A working muscle requires 10 million ATP

per second!
Energy

from food is released inside the cell through

a process called cellular respiration and it
involves a chemical called ATP. The food is
reduced to simple molecules such as water and
carbon dioxide it requires oxygen.

ATP

carries the energy to power every process and

reaction that takes place inside the cell. It is
recharged by the food molecules. One molecule of
glucose can charge up 38 molecules of ATP.

ATP

is the energy carrier. ADP is the empty carrier.

The last phosphate bond is a high energy bond.

Respiration release of
energy from food
Respiration consists of three steps:
1st step: Glycolysis

Takes place in the cytoplasm, It takes 2 ATP to

get started but the process produces 4 ATP.

No oxygen is needed (glycolysis is anaerobic

respiration very energy inefficient but great if
you have
one of these running after you!) Lactic acid is
produced instead of CO2 and water

Respiration release of
energy from food
2nd step - The Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle)
Has

got ten steps to it and involves 15 enzymes.

Takes

place inside the matrix in the mitochondria.

Carbon dioxide is released, little ATP is formed (2),
but most important many NAD are filled up with
Hydrogen forming NADH2

The

NADH2 then carries hydrogen to the

respiratory chain or the electron transfer
chain.

(NAD

is a hydrogen carrier)

Respiration release of
energy from food
3rd step - respiratory chain
The

respiratory chain is located on the membrane or

the cristae of the mitochondria.

Hydrogen

electrons are then passed on as a ball

passing on along a row of springs. This process
releases enough energy to recharge 32 ATP.

This
Low

process requires oxygen.

energy hydrogen joins with oxygen forming

water.

Glossary:
Respiration:
Breathing:
ATP:
ADP:
NAD:
Glycolysis:
The Krebs Cycle:
The electron transport chain:
Anaerobic respiration:
Factors that affect respiration: