Respiration

-Glycolysis is the first step of respiration & it starts with glucose

1. Glucose is phosphorylated (phosphate is added) to make it more reactive

2. The phosphorylated glucose is then split into 2 molecules of TP (which has 3 carbons)

3. The TP is then converted to pyruvate (which has 3 carbons), this releases a molecule of ATP

-Glycolysis is the only part of respiration that can occur without oxygen and therefore is the only thing can take place during anaerobic respiration

-Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell

-Pyruvate is converted to an acetyl group (2 carbons)

-This acetyl group then combines with co-enzyme A to form acetylCoA

-The overall equation for this is:

Pyruvate + NAD + CoA --> acetylCoA + NADH + CO2

-The Krebs cycle occurs in the matrix of the mitochondria

1. AcetylCoA combines with a 4 carbon molecule to make a 6 carbon molecule

2. Through various reactions the 6 carbon molecule is converted back to the 4 carbon molecule, this produces:

• ATP
• NADH & FADH
• 3 X CO2

-This also occurs in the matrix of the mitochondria

1. NADH & FADH donate electrons to get the ETC started, protons are also released during this

2.The electrons travel down the electron transport chain losing energy as they go, this energy is used to make ATP from ADP + Pi

3.Meanwhile the protons are actively transported into the space between the membranes of the mitochondria, where they build up

4. The protons are then allowed to diffuse back into the matrix, where they combine with oxygen and the electrons to make water 

(Oxygen is the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain)