Cellular Respiration

Cellular Respiration:

oxydation: gain of oxygen/loss of electrons, hydrogens

reduction: loss of oxygen/gain of electrons, hydrogens

1. Glycolysis: 

• Occurs in the cytosol/cytoplasm
• Phosphorylation of glucose by ATP --> less stable
• 6C sugar splits (lysis) into 2x 3C sugars
• 3C sugars are oxidised (loss of hydrogen/electrons, gain oxygen) to form reduced carriers (NADH)
• Products of glycolysis: 2 pyruvates and 2 ATP
• !Important Note: glycolysis occurs in aerobic and anaerobic respiration!

Aerobic respiration:

2. Link Reaction:

• Pyruvates go from the cytosol/cytoplasm to the matrix of the mitochondria
• pyruvate is oxidised, produces reduced carriers NADH
• Pyruvate is decarboxylated to form acetyl CoA, CO₂ is produced

3. Krebs Cycle

• Acetyl CoA combined with 4C compound forms 6C
• 6C compound broken down into original 4C --> CO₂ is produced (decarboxylation)
• This involves oxidation reactions…