cell respiration

• ATP


  Adenosine Triphosphate
• ADP


  Adenosine Diphosphate
• Nucleotide


  A molecule composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and one or more phosphate groups
• Metabolism


  The chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life
• Anabolism


  The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules, including the formation of macromolecules from monomers by condensation reactions
• Macromolecules


  Large molecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, that are essential to the structure and function of living cells
• Active Transport


  The movement of particles from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration using protein pumps and ATP energy
• Hydrolysis Reaction


  A chemical reaction in which a molecule of water is used to break down a larger molecule into smaller molecules
• Condensation Reaction


  A chemical reaction in which two molecules combine to form a single, larger molecule, with the elimination of a small molecule, such as water
• Respiration


  The controlled release of ATP energy from organic compounds (food) within cells
• Aerobic Respiration


  Respiration that requires oxygen
• Anaerobic Respiration


  Respiration that does not require oxygen
• Lactate


  A waste product of anaerobic respiration in humans
• Gas Exchange


  The exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in living cells and tissues
• Respirometer


  A device used to measure the rate of respiration in an organism
• Enzyme


  A protein that catalyses a specific chemical reaction
• Substrate


  The molecule upon which an enzyme acts
• ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) is a nucleotide that provides the activation energy for most chemical reactions within cells
• ATP is a nucleotide composed of adenine, ribose and three phosphates
• There are high energy bonds between the three phosphates in ATP
• The bond between the last two phosphates in ATP is unstable, and when broken releases energy which can be used as activation energy for metabolic chemical reactions
• Life Processes and ATP


  ATP provides the energy for the chemical reactions needed within cells to facilitate:

  Active transport across membranes

  Anabolism (synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules)

  Movement of the whole cell

  Movement of components within the cell, such as chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis
• Energy is released by hydrolysis of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and phosphate, but energy is required to synthesize ATP from ADP and phosphate
• Students should appreciate that it is sufficient energy for many tasks in the cell, but they are not required to know the quantity of energy in kilojoules
• ATP and ADP Conversions


  The hydrolysis of ATP to ADP (Adenosine Diphosphate) and an inorganic phosphate (Pi) releases energy that is used as activation energy for metabolic reactions.

  The regeneration of ATP from ADP and Pi by condensation reactions requires energy.

  Cellular respiration provides the energy for the regeneration of ATP.
• Glucose and fatty acids are the principal substrates that cells use for respiration, however they can use other organic molecules
• Organic molecules are compounds which contain carbon, but not oxides or carbonates
• Gas exchange is the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in living cells and tissues, while cellular respiration is the controlled release of ATP energy from organic compounds (food) within cells