Cellular Respiration: Parts 1 thorugh 7

The challenge here is to answer all of the QUESTIONS (both orally AND in writing) that are given underneath  each film.  By the end of the following series of lectures, you should be able to thoroughly understand the whole process of cellular respiration from start to finish.


REMEMBER: At any point in each session, you may visit a cellular respiration page that I created to give you a different visual display of each process.





"I don't think that water alone explains the release of energy by ATP.
Without the enzyme Adenosine Triphosphatase (ATPase) and Ca+2 (as a coenzyme), the ATP would not release its energy, even surrounded in water." - Professor Fink


QUESTIONS:
What is ATP? Where does it come from? How is it produced, or by what process?





"Technically, each H atom is 1 proton (H+) and 1 electron. So, 2 H atoms = 2 protons and 2 electrons.

Each NAD+ picks-up 1 proton (H+) and 2 electrons, becoming NADH. The other proton is H+.
So 2 NAD+ plus 4 H becomes 2NADH + 2H+.
For simplicity, I prefer to say 2 NAD become 2 NAD-H2" - Professor Fink


QUESTIONS:
What is the main idea expressed in this video? What happens to the oxygen in this video? What is the end result? What is meant by the term "reduced"?

QUESTIONS:
How is the content in this video relevent to processes in our bodies? What is the role of calcium in this lecture? How does ATP get turned into ADP? What does the energy release produce the power to do in the cell?


VIEWER'S QUESTION:

38 ATP? Doesn't it take 3 H+ pr ATP in the chemiosmotic phosphorylation?
That will give ~ 32ATP

PROFESSOR FINK'S ANSWER:

There is a net gain of:
2 ATPs in Glycolysis
2 ATPs (really GTPs) in the Kreb's Cycle
and up to 34 more ATPs in the Electrons Transport Chain
Technically,
for each NAD-H, 3 ATPs are produced (10 NAD-H form 30 ATPs)
for each FAD-H2, 2 ATPs are produced (2 FAD-H2, 4 ATPs are produced)
this totals 34 ATPs


VIEWER'S QUESTION:

I thought NAD+ goes to NADH and the other H+ lost in oxidation reactions is lost in the surounding environment?
PROFESSOR FINK'S ANSWER:

Technically, each H atom is 1 proton (H+) and 1 electron. So, 2 H atoms = 2 protons and 2 electrons.
Each NAD+ picks-up 1 proton (H+) and 2 electrons, becoming NADH. The other proton is H+.
So 2 NAD+ plus 4 H becomes 2NADH + 2H+.
For simplicity, I prefer to say 2 NAD become 2 NAD-H2





QUESTIONS:
How would you summarize this information in the video? Explain how he used the term "gross", vs. "net". What is NAD?


VIEWERS QUESTION:

I was told that the purpose of NAD is to transfer electrons, not hydrogen. I'm sorry if this is a dense question, but I don't understand what NAD does. Agh! Science will be end of my college career...


PROFESSOR FINK'S ANSWER:
NAD plays a role in the movement of both electrons and protons (and since 1 proton + 1 electron is called a "hydrogen atom", it is reasonable to say that NAD is involved in the transfer of hydrogen atoms).

QUESTION:
Why do you continue huffing and puffing even after you initially stop exercising?
What is the term her refers to that explains the process of breathing in extra oxygen after you stop exercising?
How come some people get tired after just a few minutes of running, and others can run for many miles without getting tired?

EXTRA COMMENTS FROM PROFESSOR FINK:

Technically, each H atom is 1 proton (H+) and 1 electron. So, 2 H atoms = 2 protons and 2 electrons.
Each NAD+ picks-up 1 proton (H+) and 2 electrons, becoming NADH. The other proton is H+.
So 2 NAD+ plus 4 H becomes 2NADH + 2H+.
For simplicity, I prefer to say 2 NAD become 2 NAD-H2


QUESTIONS:
Can you explain everything that happens in the Kreb's Cycle?
What happens with substrate phophorylation? How many NAD'S are formed and what do they do?

QUESTION:
What happens to the hot potato after it comes off the Bar-B-Q grill? Relate this analogy to the process explained in the video.
Explain the end result of the cycle?


VIEWER'S QUESTIONS:
1. Would chemiosmosis be another name for phosphorylation oxidation? becuase i don't understand that little bit.
2.In the beginning u said we needed 38 atp but my teacher said 36...but we only made 34...and same with the nadh2...my teacher said 6 not 10. so i'm just confused between the # 's ...


PROFESSOR FINK'S ANSWERS:

Yes; chemiosmosis is associated with "Oxidative Phosphorylation" -- the movement of "hot-potato" hydrogens. I did not speak about the details of this in the posted Youtube Video. The "hot-potato" hydrogens are passed from one coenzyme to the next into the outer compartment of the mitochondria. Then the "hot-potato" hydrogens flow "down-hill" (down the concentration gradient) into the inner compartment. As the "hot-potato" hydrogen flow downhill, it releases energy which is used to make ATP.


Regarding the total number of ATPs generated: Different cells generate slightly different numbers of ATP. Furthermore, 2 ATPs are "used-up" when the pyruvate sugars (pyruvic acid) are transported into the mitochondria.


VIEWER'S QUESTION:

Oh no, is this applicable for Botany / plant cells as well?

Obviously, learn the number of ATPs that your own Teacher tells you.
PROFESSOR FINK'S ANSWER:
Emphatically, YES!
Cellular Respiration (with slight variations) is a "universal" process found in ALL living things!
Good Luck!


Dont forget: You can get a great Re-Cap of all the phases of cellular respiration .  It has a link there to bring you right back to this page.  Enjoy!!