Julia Zou 7-1 Glycolysis and Fermentation Harvesting Chemical Energy Autotrophs use photosynthesis to convert light energy

from the sun into chemical energy, which is stored in carbohydrates and other organic compounds By breaking down organic compound into simpler molecules, cells release energy Some of the energy is used to make ATP from ADP and phosphate Cellular respiration- the complex process in which cells make ATP by breaking down organic compounds Cellular respiration begins with a biochemical pathway called glycolysis

because they operate in the absence of oxygen, the formation pathways are said to be anaerobic pathways aerobic respiration produces a much larger amount of ATP than glycolysis does alone

Glycolysis Glycolysis is a pathway in which one 6 carbon molecule of glucose is oxidized to produce 2 three carbon molecules of pyruvic acid It consists of a series of chemical reactions catalyzed by specific enzymes. All of the reactions take place in the cytosol of the cell and has 4 main steps Step 1- 2 phosphate groups are attached to glucose, forming a new 6 carbon compound. The phosphate groups are supplied by 2 molecules of ATP, which are converted into 2 molecules of ADP in the process Step 2- The 6 carbon compound formed in Step 1 is split into 2 three carbon molecules of PGAL Step 3- The 2 PGAL molecules are oxidized and each receives a phosphate group. The product is 2 molecules of a new three carbon compound. The oxidation of PGAL is accompanied by the reduction of 2 molecules of NAD+ to NADPH. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is very similar to NADP + because they are both organic molecules that accept electrons during redox reaction

Step 4- The phosphate groups added in Step 1 and 3 are removed from the 3 carbon compounds formed in Step 3. This reaction produces 2 molecules of pyruvic acid. Each phosphate group is combined with a molecule of ADP to make a molecule of ATP. 4 molecules of ATP are produced Glycolysis has a net yield of 2 ATP molecules for every molecule of glucose that is converted into pyruvic acid.

Fermentation In the absence of oxygen, some cells can convert pyruvic acid into other compounds through additional biochemical pathways that occur in the cytosol Fermentation- a process in which cells make a limited amount of ATP by converting glucose into another organic compound, such as lactic acid or ethyl alcohol, in the absence of oxygen.

Lactic Acid Fermentation Lactic acid fermentation- a type of fermentation in which an enzyme converts pyruvic acid into another 3 carbon compound called lactic acid

Lactic acid fermentation involves the transfer of 2 hydrogen atoms from NADP and H+ to pyruvic acid. In the process NADH is oxidized to form NAD+. The resulting NAD + is used in glycolysis where it is again reduced to NADH. Thus the regeneration of NAD+ in lactic acid fermentation helps to keep glycolysis operating Lactic acid fermentation plays an essential role in the manufacture of food producs It also occurs in your muscle cells during strenuous exercise

Alcoholic Fermentation Alcoholic fermentation- a type of fermentation in which pyruvic acid is converted into ethyl alcohol Requires 2 steps 1. A CO2 molecule is removed from pyruvic acid, leaving a 2 carbon compound 2. 2 hydrogen atoms are added to the 2 carbon compound to form ethyl alcohol Alcoholic fermentation is the basis of the wine and beer industries. Yeast cells are added to the fermentation mixture to provide the enzymes needed for alcohol fermentation. As fermentation proceeds, ethyl alcohol accumulates in the mixture until it reaches a concentration that inhibits fermentation.

Energy Yield Kilocalories- units that measure energy The complete oxidation of a standard amount of glucose releases 686 kcal. The production of a standard amount of ATP from ADP absorbs about 12 kcal The anaerobic pathways probably evolved very early in the history of life on earth