Glycolysis and the Krebs cycle

Quick revise
Both processes produce ATP from substrates but the Krebs cycle produces many
more ATP molecules than glycolysis! Every stage in each process is catalysed by
a specific enzyme. In aerobic respiration both glycolysis and the Krebs cycle are
involved whereas in anaerobic respiration only glycolysis takes place.
The flow diagram shows that every time a stage produces two hydrogen atoms,
in the presence of oxygen, three ATP molecules are produced. The role of these
hydrogen atoms is shown in the electron carrier system.
Electron carrier system
The main feature of the electron carrier or electron transport system is that three
ATPs are produced every time 2H atoms are transported. It takes place in the
mitochondria.
Glycolysis summary
ALL THE REACTIONS IN GLYCOLYSIS TAKE PLACE IN THE CELL
CYTOPLASM (OUTSIDE THE MITOCHONDRION)
Glucose is a stable molecule containing 6 Carbon atoms
Glucose contains many C-H bonds and contains significant energy
During GLYCOLYSIS one glucose molecule is split into two PYRUVATE
molecules.
Each PYRUVATE molecule contains three carbon atoms
 As glucose is a stable molecule it must first be made into a less stable
FRUCTOSE BISPHOSPHATE molecule before it can be broken down.
This requires the input of energy
(2 x ATP)
FRUCTOSE BISPHOSPHATE is split into two TRIOSE PHOSPHATE
molecules
The two TRIOSE PHOSPHATE molecules are converted into two GP
molecules, releasing energy (2 x ATP), and Hydrogen. Hydrogen is
picked up by NAD to form reduced NAD (redNAD). The Hydrogen is
taken to the mitochochondria where is is used to generate
ATP by OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION
2GPs are converted into two PYRUVATE molecules releasing energy (2
x ATP).

Thus at the end of GLYCOLYSIS, one glucose mocule has generated

2 pyruvate molecules (to the LINK REACTION)
2 ATP molecules (2 input, 4 output)
 2 red NAD molecules (to OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION)
NO CO2 is produced by glycolysis

The LINK REACTION

The LINK REACTION
Overview
Pyruvate from glycolysis is converted to Acetyl Coenzyme A (acetyl
CoA)which enters the Krebs Cycle
No ATP is generated
H is released producing reduced NAD for Oxidative Phosphorylation
CO2 is released

The LINK REACTION step by step

Pyruvate(X2) is produced in the cytoplasm by glycolysis
It is moved by active transport into the mitochondrial matrix
A series of chemical changes occur:
o decarboxylation (CO2 removed) by pyruvate decarboxylase
o Dehydrogenation (H removed) by pyruvate dehydrogenase
o An Acetyl group (2C) is produced which reacts with Coenzyme
A to form Acetyl CoA
Acetyl CoA is the end product of the Link Reaction and is needed for
the next stage of cell respiration: Krebs cycle(also called the Citric
Acid cycle)
note that the Coenzyme A is not used up in the Krebs Cycle but is
recycled back to the link reaction to make another Acetyl CoA molecule -
thus Coenzyme A acts as a carrier for the acetyl molecule

The Yield of the Link Reaction

o One CO2 molecule per pyruvate (waste product)

o One (2 carbon) Acetyl group per pyruvate for Krebs Cycle

o One reduced NAD molecule per pyruvate for Oxidative
Phosphorylation

The Yield of the Link Reaction

o One CO2 molecule per pyruvate (waste product)

 o One (2 carbon) Acetyl group per pyruvate for Krebs Cycle

o One reduced NAD molecule per pyruvate for Oxidative
Phosphorylation

Most molecules used by living organisms for energy are converted into
Acetyl CoA

Krebs Cycle Overview

Also known as the Citric Acid cycle, it was discovered in 1937 by Hans Krebs
Krebs Cycel is a series of 9 enzyme controlled reactions that breakdown Acetyl
CoA into CO2

Krebs Cycle occurs in the mitochondrial matrix

The 2C Acetyl molecule is broken down into:

o 2 x CO2 molecules (waste product)

o releasing energy to build up 2ATP molecules,

o releasing H carried by NAD (red NAD) and FAD (red FAD) to

generate more ATP via oxidative phosphorylation

Krebs Cycle Step by Step

The (2C) acetyl group from AcetylCoA combines with (4C) oxaloacetate to make
(6C) citrate
 Citrate is decarboxylated (removal of CO2) and dehydrogenated (removal of
Hydrogen) to give a 5C compound, CO2 and reduced NAD.

Further decarboxylation and dehydrogenation gives the 4Carbon compound

oxaloacetate, CO2, reduced NAD, reduced FAD and ATP.

The 4C oxaloacetate combines with a new molecule of acetyl CoA and the cycle
starts again hydrogen carriers take H to the electron transport chain.

The Electron Transport Chain makes energy

The simple facts you should know about the electron transport chain are:

34 ATP are made from the products of 1 molecule of glucose.

The process is a stepwise movement of electrons from high energy to low energy
that makes the proton gradient
The proton gradient powers ATP production NOT the flow of electrons
This electron transport chain only occurs when oxygen is available .
This is shown by the diagram below. Complex I-IV each play a role in transporting
electrons( hence the name electron transport chain), and establishing the proton
gradient. The exact mechanism of each Complex can be overwhelming so I will save
that for a future post.

The only thing you should be concerned with is as electrons pass from complex to
complex (blue arrows) they power the movement of hydrogen atoms (red arrows) into
the intermembrane space. The number of hydrogen atoms (also called proton gradient)
will build up and flow back to the matrix simultaneously powering the production of ATP.
We learned this principle from general chemistry. The movement of molecules from high
to low concentrations requires no energy. This free source of momentum can be used
as energy. In the case of the electron transport chain the momentum is used to make
ATP.
But how do these protons and electrons make it inside of
the mitochondria?
Both the Citric Acid Cycle and Electron Transport Chain take place in the mitochondria.
NADH just floats over to the inner-membrane and can enter the ETC at complex I, while
FADH2 enters the the transport chain at complex II. NADH and FADH2 are known
as electron carriers. This means they are capable of donating electrons to the transport
chain.

Oxygen is the final electron acceptor

While the electron transport chains main function is to produce ATP, another important
byproduct is water. If you follow the path of electrons (blue) and protons(pink) you might
notice that they follow the same basic pathway until the point where ATP is produced. At
 the end of the chain the electrons are taken up by oxygen molecules to
make water. This is why oxygen is known as the final electron acceptor. To put things in
perspective think about how we breathe in oxygen with our lungs, transport it with red
blood cells in our arteries to cells, and oxygen is ultimately used inside the mitochondria
of every cell to accept electrons at the end of the electron transport chain.

Summary of the Electron Transport Chain

The electron transport chain is the stepwise process of cellular respiration that is
responsible for producing:

Water (with the help of oxygen we breathe)

up to 34 ATP (thanks to the proton gradient)
NAD and FAD (which are recycled to be used again in the Citric acid cycle and
glycolysis)
This process happens in the mitochondria of Eukaryotes and cell membrane of
Prokaryotes (click here for a brief explanation).
The last key point to remember is this only happens in aerobic conditions( oxygen
present). If there is a shortage of oxygen cellular respiration will take an alternative
pathway at the end of glycolysis resulting in the the production of lactic acid and ATP.

[gn_divider top=1]