How Cells Release

Chemical Energy
Overview of Energy Releasing
Pathways

 All organisms release chemical bond energy

from glucose and other organic compounds
to drive ATP formation.
 The main energy releasing pathways all
start in the cytoplasm.
 Only aerobic respiration, which uses O,
ends in the mitochondria.
 It has the greatest energy production.

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Cont.

 Plants make ATP during photosynthesis

and use it to synthesize glucose and
other carbohydrates.

 But all organisms, plants included, can

make ATP by breaking down
carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

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Comparison of the main
types of energy releasing
pathways
 ATP can be made by aerobic or anaerobic
mechanisms (with or without oxygen).
 The first organisms on earth would have used
anaerobic respiration since O was not readily
available.
 Aerobic respiration is an efficient way to covert
glucose to ATP
 The pathways starts in the cytoplasm called
glycolysis
4
cont

 Glycolysis converts glucose to 2 pyruvate

compounds
 If oxygen is present then aerobic
respiration proceeds - the pyruvate
enters the mitochondria. If no oxygen is
present the process stays in the
cytoplasm.

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Overview of Aerobic
Respiration
 More ATP is generated by aerobic
respiration – yields 36 or more
 Anaerobic respiration (without oxygen)
has a very low yield and only yields 2
ATP molecules

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  Aerobic respiration steps:

Step 1--Glycolysis in cytoplasm, take 2

ATP to start then process; produces
2 pyruvates , electrons, hydrogen,
and produces 4 ATP – a net of 2 ATP

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 Step 2--Krebs cycle breaks down
pyruvate to carbon dioxide, e- & H+,
and 2 ATP. The Krebs cycle takes
place in the mitochondria.
 Step 3—Electron transfer
phosphorlation; membrane proteins
generate 32 ATP, water by using
oxygen as last e- acceptor. Takes
place across membranes in the
mitochondria.
Summary Equation for
Aerobic Respiration

C6H1206 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H20

glucose oxygen carbon water
dioxide

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Glucose

 A simple
sugar
(C6H12O6)

 Atoms held
together by
covalent
bonds
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CYTOPLASM glucose

2 ATP 4 ATP
Glycolysis
e- + H+ (2 ATP net)
2 NADH 2 pyruvate

e- + H+ 2 CO2
2 NADH
e- + H+
8 NADH 4 CO2
e- + H+ Krebs
2 ATP
2 FADH2 Cycle

e- Electron
Transfer 32
Phosphorylation ATP

H+ water

e- + oxygen
Typical Energy Yield: 36 ATP

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Glycolysis –
Glucose Breakdown Starts

 Glycolysis is the first stage of aerobic

respiration.
 It is also the first stage in anaerobic
respiration, such as alcoholic and
lactate (lactic acid) fermentation.

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Importance of Oxygen

 Electron transport phosphorylation

requires the presence of oxygen

 Oxygen withdraws spent electrons from

the electron transfer chain, then
combines with H+ to form water

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15
Fermentation Pathways
 Without Oxygen or do not use oxygen –
anaerobic
 Step 1 – Glycolysis in cytoplasm
 2 pyruvates
 2 Net ATP
 2 NADH
 Step 2 – Fermentation
 No more ATP is made only new end
products
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 Alcoholic fermentation
 This pyruvic acid is then converted to CO2, ethanol, and
energy for the cell.
 Humans have long taken advantage of this process in
making bread, beer, and wine.
 Yeast :
 in wheat & grains–
 sugar is converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
 The carbon dioxide will form bubbles, which will be
trapped by the gluten of the wheat causing the bread to
rise.
 small amounts of alcohol are formed, most of which will
be evaporated during the bread baking process.
Therefore, you won’t get drunk by eating bread!

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Cont.

• In Grapes –
 produces ethanol at about 10% it kills yeast;
 Saccharomyces is responsible for the
alcohol fermentation of wines.
 Grape juice contains naturally high levels of
sugars.
 These sugars are converted into alcohol and
carbon dioxide.

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Lactate fermentation

 Ex. Food – Lactobacillus & other

bacteria spoil food, some help make
milk products; pickling –(sauerkraut)

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 Ex. Muscles – ATP produced quickly, short term
 DURING EXERCISE, BREATHING CANNOT
PROVIDE YOUR BODY WITH ALL THE
OXYGEN IT NEEDS FOR AEROBIC
RESPIRATION.
 WHEN MUSCLES RUN OUT OF OXYGEN, THE
CELLS SWITCH TO LACTIC ACID
FERMENTATION.
 Blood removes Lactic Acid from muscles, but if it
is not removed fast enough, the side effects of
Lactic Acid Fermentation is Muscle Fatigue, Pain,
Cramps, and Soreness.
 Most Lactic Acid made in the muscles diffuse into
the bloodstream, then to the LIVER, where it is
converted back to PYRUVIC ACID When Oxygen
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becomes Available.
Lactate Fermentation
GLYCOLYSIS
C6H12O6

2 ATP

energy input 2 ADP 2 NAD+

2 NADH
4 ATP

energy output 2 pyruvate

2 ATP net

LACTATE
FORMATION
electrons, hydrogen
from NADH

2 lactate 21
Alterative Energy Sources in the
Body

 When required, molecules other than

glucose can enter the aerobic pathways
as alternative energy sources.
 Cells must deal with too much or too little
glucose.

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Fate of Glucose at mealtime &
between Meals
 Glucose  enter cell (at prompting of
insulin) glucose-6-phosphate– trapped
in cell
 If cells are not using up glucose rapidly it
is converted to glycogen
(polysaccharide) in the liver & muscles of
animals
 Between meal glucose levels drop 
pancreas secrete glucagon converts
glycogen in liver to glucose. 23
Processes Are Linked

sunlight energy
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

water
+ sugar oxygen
carbon molecules
dioxide

AEROBIC
RESPIRATION

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