Private answer
Describe the process of complete oxidation of glucose to form energy in the presence of oxygen.
Top of Form
Answer
- In the presence of oxygen, glucose oxidation goes through three main steps which are glycolysis, TCA cycle, and the Oxidative Phosphorylation
Glycolysis – This process occurs in the cytoplasm of cells, and involves uptake of glucose from the blood. Once glucose is absorbed into the cells, it undergoes 10 steps, the process using 2 ATP molecules and producing 4 ATP molecules. The net gain is therefore 2 ATP molecules. IN the final step of glycolysis, two molecules of pyruvate and also formed.
C6H12O6 + 2 NAD+ + 2 ADP + 2 P —–> 2 pyruvic acid, (CH3(C=O)COOH + 2 ATP + 2 NADH + 2 H+
Bridging glycolysis and the next step is a process called pyruvate oxidation, which converts pyruvate to AcetylCoA.
Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) cycle – This process occurs in the matrix of mitochondria. Acetyl CoA combines with oxaloacetate, a four-carbon molecule, losing the CoA group and forming the six-carbon molecule citrate. Every TCA cycle produces one GTP/ATP, three NADH molecules and one FADH2 molecule.
Oxidative phosphorylation – This is the last step in glucose oxidation, which forms ATP using electrons from NADH or FADH2. The process takes place in the mitochondria and is the major source of energy in aerobic respiration. It involves both chemiosmosis and Electron Transport Chain. In the ETC process, electrons are used to generate a proton motive force, which shuttles protons through the membrane ATP synthase enzyme that converts ADP to ATP. Around 32 ATP molecules are formed in this process, as well as water.
Overall reaction for glucose oxidation
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy (stored in ATP)
Marked as spam
