Assignment: Cellular respiration.

Process of cellular respiration

The cellular respiration process involves breaking down glucose into ATP. It is a metabolic
pathway that transforms chemical energy into ADP from molecules of oxygen. The main stages
involved in this process are the Krebs cycle, glycolysis, and pyruvate Oxidation

Structure of mitochondria

Mitochondria are composed of two membranes; the outer and inner membrane, whereby,
between the two membranes there is another membrane known as intermembrane. The outer
membrane is composed of porins which are proteins. These protein structures allow ionic into
and out movements in the mitochondrion. The outer membrane also contains enzymes that
elongate fatty acids and enzymes involved in adrenaline oxidation.

The inner membrane has a space within it known as the matrix. The matrix consists of RNA,
DNA, ribosomes, fatty acids, granules of calcium, and Krebs enzymes. The inner membrane is
also composed of enzymes such as ATP synthase that involves the synthesis of ATP contained in
the matrix, act as pathways for protein transportation, regulate metabolic movements of the
matrix. This inner membrane is found in the cristae so that it increases the surface volume
needed in the production of energy through the oxidative phosphorylation process.

The 3 stages involved in cellular respiration

The major steps involved in aerobic respiration are; glycolysis found in the cytoplasm, Kreb’s
cycle contained in the matrix found in the mitochondrial membrane, and electron transport chain
process.

Glycolysis

This is the initial stage in the cellular respiration process. Glycolysis involves the breaking down
of glucose molecules. It transforms the 6-molecule glucose found in carbon into pyruvate carbon
molecules. This process takes place in the cell cytoplasm. The absence or presence of oxygen
does not alter this process. The glycolysis process leads to the production of NADH which is
formed in small amounts, and also 4 ATP molecules will be generated. This process uses the two
ATP molecules while the others are left as a net gain from the glycolysis. NADH holds the
energy to be used in the third stage temporarily.

Kreb’s cycle

Under certain conditions of the aerobic process, pyruvate continues to the Krebs cycle by
entering the mitochondrial membrane through the presence of oxygen. This second stage acts as
a carrier of the two energy FADH2 and NADH which are obtained from the conversion of
glucose through the pyruvate process. ATP is also made from this process in small amounts. The
process takes place in a continuous cycle. This cycle uses 2-molecules of carbon to produce
carbon dioxide. The, (acetyl-CoA), 2-carbon molecules are obtained from the pyruvate. This
cycle uses citric acid which is obtained from the Pyruvic acid and later transforms it into; carbon
dioxide, water, hydrogen, and mitochondrial matrix through four cycles.

The Electron Transport Chain

The third stage in the respiration cellular process is the generating of ATP using Flavin adenine
dinucleotide (FADH2) and Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). The process occurs in
two main sections. In the first part, FADH2 and NADH enter the transport chain of the electron
and use their energy, to pump protons into the mitochondrial intermembrane space thus
establishing a gradient for the protons. The protons then facilitate diffusion by flowing down
their gradient concentration through moving back into the matrix of the inner membrane. The
electrons involved in the transportation of hydrogens are used by the electron transport chain as
energy and forms water and ATP within the membranes of the mitochondrial.

Basic reactions found in the cellular respiration process

Through the process of cellular respiration, water and carbon dioxide are from the conversion of
glucose molecules. ATP is directly produced as reactions to converting glucose takes place.
Small amounts of ATP used in this stage are a result of the process involved in cellular
respiration. Later in the process, more ATP is produced through the oxidative phosphorylation
process.
Both glucose and oxygen are the react of the cellular respiration process whilst the main product
is ATP. The waste products from the process include water and carbon dioxide.

The need for oxygen in the cellular respiration process

Oxygen is needed in the cellular respiration process to bond with hydrogen for the formation of
water. FADH2 and NADH are formed along the process. In Kreb’s cycle molecules of CoA
enzymes and intermediate molecules, enter the cycle

The significance of electron transport chain, Oxidative phosphorylation, and chemiosmosis

The electron chain of transport is a series of organic molecules and proteins contained in the
mitochondria's inner membrane. Through the redox series reaction, one member of the electrons
from the transport chain is passed to other members. Proton gradients are formed from the
energy produced from these reactions which are used in the formation of ATP through a process
known as chemiosmosis.

In unison chemiosmosis and energy transportation chain processes, form oxidative

phosphorylation. Production of ATP in large amounts is efficient through the process of the
oxidative process. The oxidative process acts as a fundamental unit of energy production which
is needed in the metabolic pathways. In this process activities involved are molecular exchange
by use of electrons thus forming a chemical gradient needed in the production of ATP.

Why were Khune’s apparatus and phenolphthalein used?

The Khune’s apparatus was used for the testing of the activities involved in the fermentation of
yeasts placed under varying temperatures. The yeast is a member of the eukaryotic unicellular
cell.

Phenolphthalein was used as an indicator to detect the acidity or basic properties of the
substance.

Conclusion

The cellular respiration process involves breaking down glucose and releasing the energy from
the process to form ATP. This process starts in the cytoplasm and ends in the mitochondrion.
The process has three main stages; Glycolysis, electron transport, and Krebs cycle