Important Information about Metabolism

ATP Adenosine TriPhosphate; this molecule is the most common fuel in the body

Some reactions are Catabolic; i.e. Cutting molecules into smaller pieces

Some reactions are Anabolic; i.e. Adding molecules together to get bigger molecules.
Examples would be when the body creates fat for energy storage, or proteins to build muscle

Glucose Metabolism
Glucose is the bodys preferred fuel.

1 Glucose molecule is broken down to two pyruvic acid molecules in a ten-step process
called glycolysis. This process uses two ATP, but it creates four new ATP. (Thats a net gain
of two ATP.) Glycolysis also creates two NADH+H molecules, which are used later on by
the electron transport chain to create much more ATP.

If the body does not have enough oxygen, the two Pyruvic Acids are converted into Lactic
Acids by adding hydrogen to them. If enough oxygen is present, each of the two Pyruvic
Acids will continue on through the Krebs Cycle, which produces one ATP for each time
through the cycle. The Krebs Cycle also creates NADH+H and FADH2, which are used by
the electron transport chain to make ATP.

The Electron Transport Chain produces most of the ATP in the body. It does this by using the
NADH+H and FADH2 produced in Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle. It passes electrons from
these molecules from one membrane molecule to another, creating ATP as it does so. The
end of the Electron Transport Chain hands the electrons to oxygen. This process creates
another 30 or 32 ATP.

Each glucose molecule that is completely broken down to CO2 and H20 by these three
processes will make 36 or 38 ATP. Glycolysis makes four new ATP molecules, but uses two,
so the NET gain from glycolysis is two ATP. The krebs cycle creates an ATP each time it
uses one of the two Pyruvic Acids left over at the end of glycolysis. The other ATP are
produced by the Electron Transport Chain. Glyclolysis and Krebs both create chemicals
(NADH+H and FADH2) that are used by the Electron Transport Chain to make more ATP.