aerobic respiration

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The enzymatic release of energy from inorganic and organic compounds (especially carbohydrates and fats) which requires oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. [GOC:das, GOC:jl, ISBN:0140513590]

Aerobic respiration is a complex biological process that occurs in the cells of most living organisms to convert chemical energy from nutrients into a usable form, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This process requires oxygen and generates carbon dioxide as a byproduct.

The process of aerobic respiration can be broken down into four main stages:

1. **Glycolysis:** This stage takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell and involves the breakdown of glucose, a six-carbon sugar, into two molecules of pyruvate, a three-carbon molecule. During this process, a small amount of ATP is produced.
2. **Pyruvate oxidation:** Pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. It is then decarboxylated, meaning a carbon dioxide molecule is removed, and oxidized, meaning electrons are lost. The resulting molecule is acetyl-CoA. This step also produces NADH, an electron carrier.
3. **Krebs cycle (also known as the Citric Acid Cycle):** Acetyl-CoA enters the Krebs cycle, a series of chemical reactions that occur within the mitochondrial matrix. Through these reactions, carbon dioxide is produced, and electrons are captured by electron carriers NADH and FADH2. A small amount of ATP is also generated in this stage.
4. **Electron transport chain:** The electron carriers NADH and FADH2 deliver their electrons to the electron transport chain, a series of protein complexes embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. As electrons move through the chain, energy is released and used to pump protons across the membrane, creating a proton gradient. This gradient drives the production of ATP via ATP synthase, an enzyme that uses the potential energy stored in the gradient to convert ADP to ATP.

This process is highly efficient, generating far more ATP than anaerobic respiration, which does not require oxygen. The energy produced by aerobic respiration is vital for a wide range of cellular functions, including muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, protein synthesis, and maintaining cell homeostasis. It is a fundamental process that sustains life in most organisms.'
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Proteins (49)

Compounds (229)