Biology: Cellular Respiration

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Cellular respiration is the process of converting glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water while producing energy in the form of ATP. This process takes place throughout the mitochondria. First, glycolysis occurs in the cytosol of the cell; glucose is broken down into two pyruvates and produces NADH and some ATP. Pyruvate is then broken down into acetyl CoA and carbon dioxide is released as a byproduct. In the matrix, Krebs Cycle takes place, and acetyl CoA is broken down into NADH and FADH2. In between the matrix and intermembrane space, oxidative phosphorylation occurs; NADH and FADH2 give off protons which are pumped out of the Electron Transport Chain. NADH and FADH2 are converted into NAD+ and FAD, and they are ready to accept …show more content…

Photophosphorylation occurs in the thylakoid membrane while the Calvin cycle takes place in the stroma. In P680 and P700, sunlight is used to power the system. Water is split into oxygen and the electrons are traveling through the proteins. As the electrons move through the proteins, protons are pumped from the stroma into the lumen. In ATP Synthase, the protons are pumped back out, moving a rotor which produced ATP. Also NADP accepts the protons in the stroma to make NADPH. In the Calvin Cycle, RuBisCo is attached to carbon dioxide to form two three-carbon molecules while using ATP which is broken down into ADP and Pi. NADPH gives off a proton to form NADP+ and G3P is created. RuBisCo is then created again from G3P and ATP is used as well. Cellular respiration and photosynthesis carry similar aspects though they occur in different organelles. Both processes include the production of ATP. While cellular respiration takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, photosynthesis takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. The two processes are able to complement one another. Cellular respiration releases energy while breaking down food; photosynthesis stores energy and produces food for the plant. Photosynthesis does not have the catabolism of carbon molecules, but instead the anabolism of carbon molecules; cellular respiration is the complete

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