Transcript Document

Energy in the Cell
I. The Need for Energy
A. All living organisms must be able to obtain
energy from the environment in which they
live.
B. Autotrophs - Plants and other green
organisms are able to trap the light energy in
sunlight and store it in the bonds of certain
molecules for later use.
C. Heterotrophs cannot use sunlight directly,
they eat plants or other heterotrophs that eat
plants to obtain energy.
D. Cells require energy for various activities.
1. active transport
2. cell division
3. movement of flagella or cilia
4. production, transport, and storage of proteins.
E. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a molecule that
provides quick source of energy for any organelle
in the cell that needs it.
1. ATP is composed of an adenosine molecule
with 3 phosphate groups attached.
2. As more phosphate groups are added, more
energy is required to make the molecule.
3. When the phosphate bonds are broken,
energy is released and is available to the
cell.
4. When ATP is broken down the energy must
be captured and used efficiently by cells.
5. Many proteins have a specific site where
ATP can bind.
Adenosine
3 phosphate groups
2 phosphate groups
II. Trapping Energy from Sunlight
A. The process that uses the sun’s energy to make
simple sugars is called photosynthesis.
B. The general equation for photosynthesis is
written as 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight →C6H12O6 + 6O2
C. Chlorophyll, a green pigment found in
chloroplasts and infolded membranes of
photosynthetic bacteria, absorbs almost all
wavelengths of light except green.
D. Photosynthesis happens in 2 phases.
1. The light-dependent reactions convert light energy into
chemical energy.
a. sunlight excites the electrons in the chlorophyll.
b. The excited electrons can convert ADP to ATP.
c. Water molecules are broken into H+ ions and O2 gas
2. ATP produced in the light-dependent reactions is used
to fuel the light-independent reactions that produce
simple sugars.
a. In the Calvin Cycle, CO2 is converted into 3-carbon
chains.
b. 3-carbon chains are converted into sugar and other
carbohydrates.
III. Converting Food into Energy
A. Cellular respiration is the process by which cells
break down food molecules to produce ATP.
C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6 H2O + energy
B. There are 3 stages of cellular respiration.
1. Glycolysis – breaking down glucose
a. is anaerobic - no oxygen is required.
b. breaks glucose into 2 3-carbon molecules
c. produces only 2 ATP molecules
d. takes place in the cytoplasm
2. Citric Acid Cycle or Krebs cycle, is a series of
chemical reactions that breaks down 3-carbon
molecules into CO2.
a. at each turn of the cycle, 1 ATP and 2 CO2 are
produced
b. occurs inside the inner membrane of
mitochondria
3. Electron Transport Chain
a. molecules of NADH and FADH2 give up
electrons that pass through a series of reactions.
b. occurs inside mitochondria
c. requires oxygen and produces 32 ATP molecules
Citric acid
cycle
C. Fermentation – an anaerobic process that
supplies energy when oxygen is not
available.
1. Lactic acid fermentation – produces lactic
acid in animals (build up of lactic acid
causes the “burn” we feel in our muscles)
2. Alcoholic fermentation - used by yeast
cells and some bacteria to produce CO2 and
ethyl alcohol. (important to baking and
production of wine and other alcoholic
beverages)
Comparison of Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Food synthesized
Food broken down
Energy from sun stored in glucose
Energy of glucose released
Carbon dioxide taken in
Carbon dioxide given off
Oxygen given off
Oxygen taken in
Produces sugars
Produces CO2 and H2O
Requires light
Does not require light
Occurs only cells with chlorophyll
Occurs in all living cells
The End