Department of Education

General Biology
Cellular Respiration
Second Quarter – Week 4

Mark Archei O. Javier

Writer

Mrs. Jinky Santos

Validator

Armida S. Oblinada
Quality Assurance

Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa City

Student Center for Life Skills Bldg., Centennial Ave., Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City
(02) 8805-9935 / (02) 8805-9940
LESSON I – Major Features of Cellular Respiration (Glycolysis, Kreb’s Cycle, Electron
Transport System, and Chemiosmosis)

EXPECTATIONS
At the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
 distinguish major features of glycolysis, Krebs cycle, electron transport
system, and chemiosmosis.
 describe reactions that produce and consume ATP
 describe the role of oxygen in respiration and describe pathways of electron
flow in the absence of oxygen

PRETEST
Complete the sentence by choosing the correct word from the choices inside the
parentheses. Encircle your correct answer.
1. (32, 34, 36, 38) ATPs are made in the ETC.
2. (Pyruvate, Glucose, NADH, FADH2) is a substrate of glycolysis.
3. If oxygen is not present, glycolysis is followed by (Krebs cycle, fermentation,
ETC).
4. Glycolysis happens in the (cytoplasm, cristae, intermembrane space, matrix)
of the mitochondrion.
5. The area inside the cristae where the Krebs cycle happens in the (cytosol,
matrix, intermembrane space).
6. The three phases of cellular respiration are glycolysis, (citric acid cycle or
carboxylic acid cycle), and ETC.
7. The passage of H+ ions through (shuttle membranes, ATP synthase, ETC)
causes it to spin and produce ATP.
8. (Kinase, Coenzyme A, Isomerase) reacts with pyruvic acid to release CO2,
produce NADH, and acetyl-CoA.
9. A six-carbon molecule produced when acetyl-CoA joins with oxaloacetic acid
is called (citric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid)
10. The NADH and FADH2 produced during the first steps of cellular respiration
pass their electrons down the (glycolysis stage, citric acid cycle, electron
transport chain) to produce ATP.

LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON

Your previous lesson involves photosynthesis. Study the scenario and diagrams
below. Then, answer the questions that follow.

A student prepared a beaker

with sprigs of a water plant as shown
in the figure below. She placed her
set-up beside a fluorescent lamp. She
then systematically changed the
distance of the beaker from the lamp.
After some time, she counted the
bubbles given off by the sprig of the
water plant. Also shown is the graph
of the data she was able to collect
from her experiment.
Guide Questions:
 1. If the student would test the air bubbles collected in the test tube, what would
she find they are made of? How do you know?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. By using the graph, at what distance from the light source was the greatest
number of bubbles produced?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. If the lamp was placed closer than 5 centimeters from the water plant, would
the plant give off many more bubbles? Why or why not?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. How can you modify the student’s experiment?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. In your own words, interpret the graph.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is a series of metabolic processes that take place in the
mitochondrion of the cell to convert chemical energy from nutrients to usable form
of energy known as ATP. It involves aerobic and anaerobic processes that break down
glucose into smaller molecules, releasing energy. Cellular respiration involves the
cumulative function of three metabolic stages:
1. Glycolysis
2. Krebs Cycle or Citric Acid Cycle
3. Oxidative Phosphorylation: Electron Transport and Chemiosmosis

The process of cellular respiration is shown in the diagram below.

Overview of Cellular Respiration

Glycolysis
Glycolysis is the first major step of cellular respiration. The word glycolysis
means “sugar splitting”. It is an anaerobic and catabolic pathway which means that
it can happen without the presence of oxygen and it involves the breakdown of
glucose into two molecules of a compound called pyruvate. It occurs in the cytosol.
This process harvests the chemical energy by oxidizing glucose into pyruvate. In this
process, glucose, a six-carbon sugar is split into two three-carbon sugars. These
smaller sugars are then oxidized and their remaining atoms are rearranged to form
two molecules of pyruvate.

The diagram shows the energy input

and output of glycolysis. It can be observed
that glycolysis can be divided into two phases:
energy investment and energy payoff. During
the energy investment phase, the cell spends
ATP, but it is repaid with interest during the
energy pay-off phase. In the energy pay-off
phase, ATP is produced by substrate level
phosphorylation or formation of ATP from ADP
and phosphorylated intermediate and NAD+ is
reduced to NADH by electrons released from
the oxidation of glucose. It can be observed that
the net energy yield by glycolysis per glucose
molecule is 2 ATP plus 2 NADH. At the end of
the process, the carbon originally present in
glucose is accounted for in the two molecules
of pyruvate. Water also serves as by-product of
the reaction. If oxygen is present, the chemical
energy stored in pyruvate and NADH can be
extracted by the citric acid cycle and oxidative
phosphorylation.

The specific enzymes, reactants, and products for the 10-step process of
glycolysis are shown in the diagram below. Take note of the molecules, the process,
and ATP produced in the reaction.
Intermediate Step – Conversion of Pyruvate to Acetyl CoA
After glycolysis comes an
intermediate step that converts pyruvate
into acetyl CoA. This process must occur
since the product of glycolysis, pyruvate,
cannot directly enter the mitochondrion to
proceed to Krebs cycle. Pyruvate must be
converted into acetyl CoA first before the
process continues. This reaction allows the
production of 2 NADH that will be used
later in oxidative phosphorylation. Take
note that 2 molecules of CO2 are also
produced per glucose. This intermediate
process can be summarized in the diagram
on the right.

Krebs Cycle
Krebs cycle is also known as citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle. It
functions as a metabolic furnace that oxidizes organic fuel derived from pyruvate.
The figure on the left summarizes the inputs and outputs of Krebs cycle as pyruvate
is broken down to three (3) CO2 molecules, that includes the CO2 molecule released
during the conversion of pyruvate into acetyl
CoA. Krebs cycle generates 1 ATP per turn by
substrate-level phosphorylation, but most of
the chemical energy is transferred into NAD+
and coenzyme FAD, a related electron barrier.
The reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2, will
be shuttled to the electron transport chain.
Krebs cycle involves conversion of one
molecules to the next and it is catalyzed by
specific enzymes. What’s important for you to
take note in Krebs cycle is that per glucose that
produces two pyruvate molecules, the products
that will be produced are 4 CO2, 6 NADH, 2
ATP, and 2 FADH2.

Oxidative Phosphorylation
The previous steps discussed, glycolysis and
citric acid cycle, only produced 4 ATP molecules
per glucose through substrate level
phosphorylation. It is important to remember
that cellular respiration involves production of
usable form of energy that the cell needs. So
where are other ATPs produced? After glycolysis and Krebs cycle, the molecules
NADH and FADH2 accounts for most of the energy extracted from the glucose. These
electron escorts link glycolysis and Krebs cycle to the machinery of oxidative
phosphorylation, which uses energy released by the electron transport chain to
power ATP synthesis.

Oxidative phosphorylation involves electron transport chain (ETC) and

chemiosmosis. ETC is a collection of molecules found in the inner membrane of the
mitochondrion of eukaryotic cells and plasma membrane of prokaryotes. The figure
below shows the sequence of electron carriers in the electron transport chain. During
electron transport, electron carriers alternate between reduced and oxidized states
as they can accept and donate electrons. ETC involves the use of oxygen. The process
involved in ETC begins with the addition of electrons, donated from NADH and
FADH2 produced by glycolysis and Krebs cycle. These electrons move through a series
of electron carriers. As electrons move, there will be an unequal accumulation of H +
or protons found in the intermembrane space. The protons found in the
intermembrane space after ETC will be used for the production of ATP via
chemiosmosis. Give special consideration to oxygen. Take note that the oxygen is
needed in the process since it serves as the final electron acceptor of the ETC. Oxygen
combines with electrons and hydrogen ions to produce water. Water is a by-product
of the reaction.

Since ETC makes no ATP directly, the process that involves production of ATP
is chemiosmosis. Chemiosmosis is the movement of protons across the inner
mitochondrial membrane or cristae through the ATP synthase that allows synthesis
of ATP. ATP synthase is the enzyme that actually makes ATP from ADP and inorganic
phosphate. ATP synthase works like an ion pump. It uses the energy of the existing
proton gradient to power ATP synthesis. The power source for the ATP synthase is
the unequal difference in the concentration gradient of protons on opposite sides of
the cristae.

As an accounting of the ATP produced, it is important to understand that each

NADH that transfers a pair of electrons from glucose to ETC contributes to a
maximum of about 3 ATP. FADH2, on the other hand, transports only enough proton
for the synthesis of 2 ATP. This means that the NADH and FADH 2 produced by
glycolysis and Krebs cycle will proceed to ETC to produce protons that will eventually
be used in the synthesis of ATP. The diagram on the next page shows the ATP yield
of one glucose by substrate-level and oxidative-level phosphorylation. Follow the
movement of NADH and FADH2 produced in the process and give special attention
to the number of ATP synthesized in glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and oxidative
phosphorylation.

Anaerobic Respiration
It was mentioned in the Krebs cycle that oxygen serves as the final electron
acceptor of the ETC in the final steps of cellular respiration. It was also mentioned
that the oxygen combines with electrons and hydrogen ions to produce water. This
means that the particular reactions mentioned above involves the presence of oxygen
(except glycolysis that does not require O2). But what if there’s no oxygen? Would
there be enough ATP?

Take note that most of the ATP generated by cellular respiration is due to the
work of oxidative phosphorylation. This reaction occurs with the presence of oxygen.
Without the supply of oxygen to the cell, oxidative phosphorylation ceases. So, what
happens next?

There are two general mechanisms by which certain cells can oxidize organic
fuel and generate ATP anaerobically. These two mechanisms are anaerobic
respiration and fermentation. Anaerobic respiration takes place in certain
prokaryotic organisms that live in oxygen-depleted environment. These organisms
have ETC found on their plasma membrane but do not use oxygen as final electron
acceptor at the end of the chain. Thus, only minimal amount of ATP is produced but
just enough for the prokaryotic cell to be able to perform its functions. The other
mechanism is known as fermentation. Fermentation is an anaerobic process used as
a way of harvesting chemical energy without using either oxygen or any ETC – in
other words without cellular respiration. Fermentation consists of glycolysis plus
reactions that regenerate NAD+ by transferring electrons from NADH to pyruvate.
The NAD+ can be then reused to oxidize sugar by glycolysis, which provides a net of
two molecules of ATP by substrate-level phosphorylation. There are common types
of fermentation namely alcohol fermentation and lactic acid fermentation.
 In alcohol fermentation, the pyruvate is
converted into ethanol (ethyl alcohol). This
involves a two-step process. The first step
releases CO2 from the pyruvate, which is
converted to acetaldehyde. The second step
involves the reduction of acetaldehyde by
NADH to ethanol. Many bacteria carry out
alcohol fermentation under anaerobic
conditions. Yeast also carries out alcohol
fermentation which is used in brewing,
winemaking, and baking. The CO2 bubbles
generated by baker’s years during alcohol
fermentation allow bread to rise.

Lactic acid fermentation, on the other hand,

involves direct reduction by NADH of
pyruvate to form lactate as an end product,
with no release of CO2. This lactate is the
ionized form of lactic acid. The lactic acid
fermentation by certain fungi and bacteria
is used in the dairy industry to make yogurt
and cheese. In humans, our muscle cells
make ATP by lactic acid fermentation when
oxygen is scarce. This occurs when there’s
not enough supply of oxygen from the blood
due to strenuous exercise. When this
happens, the cells switch from aerobic
respiration to fermentation. The lactate that
accumulates causes muscle fatigue and
pain.

ACTIVITIES
A. Go back to the processes involved in cellular respiration and complete the table
to have the accounting of the number of CO 2, NADH, FADH2, and ATP produced
in one glucose molecule.

Stages of Cellular Respiration C02 NADH FADH2 Net ATP

Glycolysis
Conversion of Pyruvate to Acetyl CoA
Krebs Cycle
Oxidative Phosphorylation
TOTAL

B. Solve for the following based on your answer on Part A.

1. How many ATPs are produced in an anaerobic respiration (Clue: which of the
stages of cellular respiration can occur without oxygen)?

2. How many ATPs will be produced from 85 glucose molecules? Show your
solution below.
REMEMBER
 Cellular respiration is a series of metabolic processes that take place in the
mitochondrion of the cell to convert chemical energy from nutrients to usable
form of energy known as ATP.
 Cellular respiration involves three steps namely: glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and
oxidative phosphorylation.
 Glycolysis involves the breakdown of glucose into two molecules of a
compound called pyruvate.
 Krebs cycle is also known as citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle. It
functions as a metabolic furnace that oxidizes organic fuel derived from
pyruvate.
 Oxidative phosphorylation involves electron transport chain (ETC) and
chemiosmosis.
 ETC is a collection of molecules found in the inner membrane of the
mitochondrion of eukaryotic cells and plasma membrane of prokaryotes.
 Chemiosmosis is the movement of protons across the inner mitochondrial
membrane or cristae through the ATP synthase that allows synthesis of ATP.
 ATP synthase is the enzyme that actually makes ATP from ADP and inorganic
phosphate.
 One glucose can yield about 36 ATP molecules.
 Without the presence of oxygen, anaerobic respiration and fermentation may
occur.
 Fermentation is an anaerobic process used as a way of harvesting chemical
energy without using either oxygen or any ETC – in other words without
cellular respiration.
 Fermentation has two common types – alcoholic and lactic acid fermentation.
 In alcohol fermentation, the pyruvate is converted into ethanol (ethyl alcohol).
 Lactic acid fermentation involves direct reduction by NADH of pyruvate to form
lactate as an end product, with no release of CO 2.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Match the terms in Column A with the definition in Column B. Then, identify the
location where the process / molecule is located / can be produced.

A (Term) B (Function) C (Location)

_______1. NADH a. end product of glycolysis i. Cristae
_______2. Pyruvate b. also known as the citric acid cycle ii. Matrix
_______3. Krebs Cycle c. also known as tricarboxylic acid cycle iii. Cytosol
_______4. ATP Synthase d. cellular respiration in the absence of iv. Outer
oxygen Membrane
_______5. Anaerobic e. channel protein and enzyme that makes v. Intermembrane
respiration ATP space
f. cellular respiration in the presence of
oxygen
g. produces 2 ATP in electron transport
chain
h. energy-carrying compound involved in
stage I and stage II of cellular respiration
POST TEST
Identify if the statement is TRUE or FALSE.

_______1. The Krebs cycle produces four ATP.

_______2. Two NADPH are made during glycolysis.
_______3. Cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria.
_______4. Mitochondria possess their own DNA and ribosomes.
_______5. The first reaction of the Krebs cycle produces citric acid.
_______6. The Krebs cycle comes after glycolysis, during cellular respiration.
_______7. One molecule of glucose holds enough energy to produce up to 38 ATP.
_______8. Whereas plants perform photosynthesis, plants and animals perform
cellular respiration.
_______9. Cellular respiration that proceeds in the presence of oxygen is called
aerobic respiration.
_______10. ATP synthase pumps, by active transport, hydrogen ions back into the
mitochondria matrix.

REFERENCES

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