4bioenergetics Utilization of Energy
4bioenergetics Utilization of Energy
4bioenergetics Utilization of Energy
1. Let your students recall that energy from sunlight is transformed to chemical energy stored in
macromolecules such as sugars through the process of photosynthesis.
2. For this lesson inform your students that they will learn how the energy stored in sugars is used to produce
ATP which is the energy currency of the cell.
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a. Catabolic pathways – release energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler compounds; ex.
glucose broken down to CO2 and H2O
4. Describe the nature of ATP. You may use the following diagram to do this.
5. Give examples of the different types of cell work which all require energy in the form of ATP
6. Give an overview of the three major stages of cellular respiration and mention that they should occur in the
given order.
a. Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose to pyruvate where small amounts of ATP are produced. This process
occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.
b. Citric acid cycle or tricarboxylic acid cycle or Krebs cycle degrades pyruvate to carbon dioxide, water, ATP
and reducing power in the form of NADH, H+. This stage happens in the matrix of the mitochondria.
c. Oxidative phosphorylation which includes electron transport chain and chemiosmosis generates high
amounts of ATP. This stage occurs in the inner membrane of the mitochondria.
a. Describe the ten steps. You may also give the enzyme that catalyzes each step.
b. A molecule of six-carbon glucose is broken down into two molecules of three-carbon pyruvate.
c. Point out that ATP is required in the first and third steps for a total of 2 ATP.
d. Explain that for every glucose molecule that is broken down, four ATP molecules are produced via substrate
level phosphorylation. Two molecules are produced from step 7 and two more from step 10. The net ATP
produced is 2.
a. Describe the oxidation and decarboxyation of pyruvate producing acetyl CoA and CO2. This step also
produces NADH, H+. For every pyruvate, one molecule of CO2, one molecule of acetyl CoA and one
molecule of NADH, H+ are produced.
b. Acetyl CoA enters the citric acid cycle. Describe the eight steps. You may also give the enzyme that
catalyzes each step.
c. Show that NADH, H+ are produced from steps 3, 4 and 8; FADH2 is produced from step 6 and ATP
from step 5.
e. Explain that for every acetyl CoA that enters the cycle, three molecules of NADH, H+, one molecule of
FADH2, one molecule of ATP, and two molecules of CO2 are produced.
a. Describe the electron transport chain. Show that the electrons from the oxidation of NADH, H+ are
passed from one electron carrier to another in the electron transport chain.
b. Emphasize that the NADH,H+ and FADH2 produced from the previous stages are the electron donors in
this stage and that the final electron acceptor is oxygen.
c. Describe that ATP is produced by ATP synthase via chemiosmosis.
d. Discuss that for every molecule of NADH, H+ which is oxidized via oxidative phosphorylation, three
molecules of ATP are produced and that for every molecule of FADH2, two molecules of A
The six-carbon sugar such as glucose is oxidized and oxygen is reduced forming carbon dioxide, water and
energy.
13.Discuss the relationship of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. You may use the following diagram to
emphasize the relationship of these two major cellular processes.
14. The cellular respiration process that has so far been discussed involves oxygen, thus it is also referred to as
aerobic respiration. But you may also discuss that some cells are capable of producing ATP in the absence of
oxygen through fermentation or anaerobic respiration.
a. ethanol fermentation – pyruvate from glycolysis loses carbon dioxide and is converted to twocarbon
compound acetaldehyde which is then reduced to ethanol; this step also produces NADH, H +. Wine is
produced by some bacteria through this process.
b. lactic acid fermentation – pyruvate from glycolysis is reduced to lactate coupled with the oxidation of
NADH, H+. When oxygen is scarce, human muscle cells may switch to anaerobic respiration leading to the
accumulation of lactate.
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2.Ask your students to present their analogy/story to the class for five minutes each group. They should
indicate how the story is parallel or analogous to the stage of cellular respiration.
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Quiz 40 mins
0 REMIXES
Quiz
A. Calvin cycle
C. glycolysis
D. oxidative phosphorylation
B. Glycolysis produces a net total of four molecules of ATP via substrate level phosphorylation
and two molecules of NADH,H+.
B. NADH, H+
C. CO2
D. A and B only
E. A, B, and C
A. ATP
B. FADH2
C. NADH, H+
D. A and B
E. B and C
A. AATP
B. carbon dioxide
C. oxygen
D. NADH, H+
E. FADH2
B. active transport
C. beating of cilia
D. contraction of muscle cells