Cellular Respiration Part I:

Introduction to Energy Harvesting

 Big Idea

• All living systems require constant input of

energy.
• Cellular respiration in eukaryotes involves a
series of coordinated enzyme-catalyzed
reactions that harvest free energy from simple
carbohydrates.

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 It sound simple but……
• Why do you have to eat?
– What does it have to do with entropy?
• Why do you have to breathe?

• Can you give an AP Biology level answer to

these questions?
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What do you know about this molecule?
 ATP
• The cell’s energy currency
• Energy is released when a phosphate is
removed from the molecule.
• Respiration fuels the addition of P to ADP
• Unstable, short-term energy storage
High Energy Phosphate Bonds

Ribose

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 Light
energy

ECOSYSTEM

Photosynthesis
in chloroplasts
Organic
CO2  H2O
molecules  O2
Cellular respiration
in mitochondria

ATP powers
ATP
most cellular work

Heat
energy
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 Sequence These From
Greatest To Least Chemical Energy
Greatest to Least
 The Principle of Redox
• Chemical reactions that transfer electrons
between reactants are called oxidation-
reduction reactions, or redox reactions

• In oxidation, a substance loses electrons, or is

oxidized (its oxidation number increases)

• In reduction, a substance gains electrons, or is

reduced (the amount of positive charge is
reduced)
 Example
Reactants Products
becomes oxidized

Energy

becomes reduced

Methane Oxygen Carbon dioxide Water

(reducing (oxidizing
agent) agent)

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 Oxidation of Organic Fuel Molecules
During Cellular Respiration

• During cellular respiration, the fuel (such as glucose)

is oxidized, and O2 is reduced

becomes oxidized

becomes reduced
 Respiration
• Cellular respiration includes both aerobic and
anaerobic respiration but is often refers to aerobic
respiration

• Although carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are all

consumed as fuel, it is helpful to trace cellular
respiration with the sugar glucose

C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Energy (ATP + heat energy)

Big Energy Events of Respiration

– Glycolysis (breaks down glucose into two

molecules of pyruvate)

– The citric acid cycle (completes the

breakdown of glucose)

– Oxidative phosphorylation (accounts for

most of the ATP synthesis)
 So…..Why do we have to eat?

• Answer the question using your AP Biology

level understanding of energy transfer.

• Be ready to share your answer.

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