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Fermentation & Anaerobic Respiration definitions Flashcards

Fermentation & Anaerobic Respiration definitions
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  • Fermentation
    A metabolic process that regenerates NAD+ from NADH, allowing glycolysis to continue producing ATP in the absence of oxygen by using an alternative electron acceptor.
  • Anaerobic Cellular Respiration
    A process where cells generate energy without oxygen by converting glucose into ATP, producing byproducts like lactic acid or ethanol, and regenerating NAD+ for glycolysis.
  • Electron Transport Chain
    A series of protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen, generating ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
  • Nadh
    A molecule that carries electrons and is oxidized to regenerate NAD+ during fermentation, enabling glycolysis to continue in the absence of oxygen.
  • Nad+
    An essential electron carrier in cellular respiration, it accepts electrons during glycolysis and fermentation, enabling ATP production in the absence of oxygen.
  • Glycolysis
    A metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH, and occurs in the cytoplasm of cells, functioning with or without oxygen.
  • Pyruvate
    A key intermediate in cellular respiration, it is the end product of glycolysis and can be further metabolized in the Krebs cycle or reduced during fermentation to regenerate NAD+.
  • Lactic Acid Fermentation
    A metabolic process where pyruvate is reduced by NADH to form lactate and regenerate NAD+, enabling glycolysis to continue producing ATP in the absence of oxygen.
  • Lactate
    A byproduct of anaerobic respiration where pyruvate is reduced by NADH, regenerating NAD+ and allowing glycolysis to continue, producing a small amount of ATP.
  • Atp
    A molecule that stores and transfers energy within cells, primarily produced during cellular respiration, and used to power various cellular processes.
  • Pyruvate Oxidation
    The process where pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA, producing NADH and CO2, and linking glycolysis to the Krebs cycle in aerobic respiration.
  • Krebs Cycle
    A series of chemical reactions in mitochondria that generate ATP, NADH, and FADH2 by oxidizing acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
  • Chemiosmosis
    The process where ATP is synthesized using the energy from a proton gradient across a membrane, established by the electron transport chain during cellular respiration.
  • Redox Reactions
    A process involving the transfer of electrons between molecules, where one molecule is oxidized (loses electrons) and another is reduced (gains electrons), crucial for energy production in cells.
  • Oxidation
    The process where a molecule loses electrons, often to oxygen, resulting in an increase in oxidation state.