Chemistry of Life - Cell Respiration

Cell Respiration = Controlled release of energy fron organic compunds in cells in the form of ATP.

Glucose in the cytoplasm is broken down into pyruvate <- small ATP yield

Anaerobic cell respiration: Puryvate is converted into lactate or alcohol <- no further ATP yield

• Lactic fermentation = No oxygen is available, Krebs cycle is stopped and the electron transport chain stops. Too much pyruvate is built up and we need a way to get rid of it. Pyruvate is therefore transferred into a waste product - lactate - that can be removed from the cell. No ATP is produced
• Alcohol fermentation = No oxygen is available. Pyruvate is transferred into ethanol(alcohol) and carbon dioxide is created as a bi-product. This is how an one-celled organism can overcome oxygen deficiency.

Aerobic cell respiration:

Pyruvate is absorbed and broken down in the mitochondrion into carbon dioxide and water (!) <- large ATP yield