Biology · AP

AP Biology: Cellular Energetics and Communication

Cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and cell signaling concepts tested on AP Biology.

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What is the overall equation for aerobic cellular respiration?
C6H12O6 + 6O2 yields 6CO2 + 6H2O + approximately 30-32 ATP
Which organelle is the primary site of cellular respiration?
Mitochondrion
What does the term 'substrate-level phosphorylation' mean?
Direct transfer of a phosphate group from a substrate molecule to ADP to form ATP, without using an electron transport chain
What is the net ATP yield from glycolysis?
2 ATP (4 ATP produced minus 2 ATP consumed)
In which compartment of the mitochondrion does glycolysis occur?
Glycolysis does not occur in the mitochondrion; it occurs in the cytoplasm
What is the first product of glycolysis?
Pyruvate (or pyruvic acid)
What does NAD+ accept during glycolysis?
Electrons (and a proton), becoming reduced to NADH
Before entering the Krebs cycle, what happens to pyruvate?
Pyruvate is oxidized and combines with Coenzyme A to form Acetyl-CoA, releasing CO2
How many times does the Krebs cycle turn for each glucose molecule?
Two times (once for each pyruvate produced by glycolysis)
What is the primary function of the Krebs cycle?
To extract electrons from carbon-containing molecules and release them to electron carriers (NADH and FADH2)
Which molecule directly donates electrons to the electron transport chain?
NADH and FADH2
What is the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain?
Oxygen (O2), which combines with electrons and protons to form water
How does the electron transport chain produce ATP?
Electrons lose energy as they move through the chain; this energy pumps protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a gradient; protons flow back through ATP synthase, driving ATP synthesis
Which process produces more ATP, glycolysis or the Krebs cycle?
Neither directly; the electron transport chain produces the most ATP by far through chemiosmosis
What is fermentation and why does it occur?
Anaerobic cellular respiration where pyruvate is converted to lactate or ethanol to regenerate NAD+, allowing glycolysis to continue without oxygen

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