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3 Efficient Steps of Aerobic Cellular Respiration

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Aerobic Cellular Respiration

Aerobic and anaerobic respiration are two types of cellular respiration. Aerobic cellular respiration requires oxygen, while anaerobic respiration does not. Aerobic respiration is more efficient than anaerobic respiration and produces more ATP. However, anaerobic respiration is faster and used when oxygen is unavailable.

Aerobic cellular respiration occurs in the presence of oxygen and uses aerobic metabolism to produce ATP. Aerobic respiration is divided into three phases: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and the electron transport chain.

aerobic cellular respiration

Process of Aerobic Respiration

1. Glycolysis

2. Krebs cycle

3. Electron transport chain

Glycolysis is the process of breaking down glucose to produce ATP. Glucose gets converted to pyruvate, which enters the Krebs cycle.

The Krebs cycle produces ATP and NADH, which are used in the electron transport chain to produce more ATP.

The electron transport chain uses oxygen to produce ATP. Oxygen reduces to water, and electrons become transferred through a series of redox reactions. The energy from these reactions pumps protons across a membrane, which creates a proton gradient. This gradient generates ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.

The Krebs Cycle

The Krebs cycle is a series of reactions that produces ATP and NADH. 

1. Pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA.

2. Acetyl-CoA enters the Krebs cycle and becomes converted to carbon dioxide and water.

3. The energy from these reactions produces ATP and NADH.

4. ATP and NADH are used in the electron transport chain to produce more ATP.

5. The cycle continues until all of the acetyl-CoA has been used up.

The Krebs cycle occurs in the mitochondria, which is aerobic because it requires oxygen. The cycle is also known as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle or the citric acid cycle.

The Krebs cycle produces ATP through two mechanisms: substrate-level phosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation. Substrate-level phosphorylation occurs when a high-energy phosphate group is transferred from a compound to ADP, forming ATP. Oxidative phosphorylation occurs when electrons are transferred from NADH to oxygen, producing water and ATP.

1. Substrate-level phosphorylation: A high-energy phosphate group is transferred from a compound to ADP, forming ATP.

2. Oxidative phosphorylation: Electrons are transferred from NADH to oxygen, producing water and ATP.

ATP

ATP becomes produced in all three phases of aerobic respiration. ATP is used for many cellular functions, including muscle contraction, active transport, and the synthesis of macromolecules.

Muscle Contractions:

Muscle contractions get powered by ATP. ATP becomes hydrolyzed to ADP and Pi, which releases energy used to cross the myosin head over the actin filament. ATP is continuously being produced and used during muscle contractions. Muscle contraction would not be possible without a continuous supply of ATP. Nerve impulses stimulate the process of muscle contraction.

When a muscle cell is stimulated, calcium ions become released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Calcium ions bind to troponin, which changes the shape of tropomyosin, exposing the active sites on actin, which can now attach to myosin heads. Myosin heads use the energy from ATP to power a cross-bridge cycle. In the cross-bridge cycle, myosin heads bind to actin and then use the energy from ATP to power a conformational change.

This change causes the myosin head to pivot, which pulls the actin filament towards the center of the sarcomere. The pivoting action of myosin heads is what produces muscle contractions. Muscle contractions are necessary for many functions, including movement, posture, and heart function.

Active Transport:

Active transport is the movement of molecules across a membrane against a concentration gradient. Active transport requires ATP. Molecular pumps use the energy from ATP to pump molecules across a membrane. The most common type of molecular pump is the sodium-potassium pump. The sodium-potassium pump uses ATP to pump sodium ions out of cells and potassium ions into cells, creating a concentration gradient of sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane. The sodium-potassium pump is responsible for maintaining the resting potential of neurons. 

Synthesis of Macromolecules:

Synthesis of macromolecules is the process of synthesizing large molecules from smaller molecules. Synthesis of macromolecules requires ATP. ATP is essential for many cellular processes, including active transport, muscle contraction, and the synthesis of macromolecules. Enzymes require ATP to catalyze reactions. DNA polymerase uses ATP to add nucleotides to DNA strands during replication. RNA polymerase uses ATP to add nucleotides to RNA strands during transcription. Ribosomes use ATP to synthesize proteins during translation. Synthesis of macromolecules is necessary for many cellular processes, including DNA replication, transcription, and translation.

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