Group 4

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Energy
Transformation
(ATP – ADP cycle, Photosynthesis, Respiration)
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Photosynthesis, Cellular Respiration
and ATP
▪ Life processes require a constant supply of energy.

▪ Cells use energy that is stored in the bonds of certain organic

molecules.

▪ Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a molecule that transfers

energy from the breakdown of food molecules to cell
processes.
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ATP: Energy Molecule
▪ Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the most important biological molecule that
supplies energy to the cell.

▪ A molecule of ATP is composed of three parts:

▪ A nitrogenous base (adenine)

▪ A sugar (ribose)

▪ Three phosphate groups (therefore the name

triphosphate) bonded together by “high energy”
bonds
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The ATP-ADP Cycle
▪ The energy stored in ATP is released when a phosphate group is removed
from the molecule.

▪ ATP has three phosphate groups, but the bond holding the third phosphate
groups is very easily broken.
▪ When the phosphate is removed, ATP becomes ADP—adenosine diphosphate,
a phosphate is released into the cytoplasm and energy is released.

▪ Exergonic reaction

▪ ADP is a lower energy molecule than ATP, but can be converted to ATP by
the addition of a phosphate group.

ATP → ADP + phosphate + energy available for cell processes

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ATP → ADP + P + Energy
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The ATP-ADP Cycle
▪ To supply the cell with energy, ADP is continually converted to ATP by the
addition of a phosphate during the process of cellular respiration.

▪ ATP carries much more energy than ADP.

▪ As the cell requires more energy, it uses energy from the breakdown of food
molecules to attach a free phosphate group to an ADP molecule in order to
make ATP.
▪ Endergonic reaction

▪ ADP + phosphate + energy from breakdown of food molecules → ATP

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ADP + P + Energy → ATP
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To put it briefly, ATP
▪ ATP is consumed in the cell by energy-requiring processes and
can be generated by energy-releasing processes.
▪ In this way ATP transfers energy between separate biochemical reactions in
the cell.

▪ ATP is the main energy source for the majority of cellular

functions.
▪ This includes the synthesis of organic molecules, including DNA and, and
proteins. ATP also plays a critical role in the transport of organic molecules
across cell membranes, for example during exocytosis and endocytosis.
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Energy Transformations
▪ All organisms need a constant source of energy to survive.

▪ The ultimate source of energy for most life on Earth is the Sun.

▪ Photosynthesis, which occurs in the chloroplast of plant cells, is

the overall process by which solar energy (sunlight) is used to
chemically convert water and carbon dioxide into chemical energy
stored in simple sugars (such as glucose).
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Photosynthesis

▪ This process occurs in two stages:

▪ Light-Dependent Cycle
▪ Light-Independent Cycle (a.k.a Calvin Cycle)
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Photosynthesis: Light-Dependent Cycle
▪ Requires solar energy
▪ Relies on solar energy

▪ Solar energy is absorbed by chloroplasts and two energy storing

molecules (ATP and NADPH) are produced.

▪ Solar energy is used to split water molecules that results in the release
of oxygen as a waste product.

▪ The splitting of water molecules allows for the temporary transfer of

the solar energy to electrons released by the broken bonds. This
energy is used to make ATP and NADPH.
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Photosynthesis: Light-Dependent Cycle
To put it briefly,

▪ Requires solar energy from the sun

▪ Occurs in chloroplast of plant cells

▪ Thylakoids

▪ Makes ATP, NADPH, and Oxygen

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Photosynthesis: Light-Independent Cycle

▪ Does not require solar energy.

▪ Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and energy carried by

ATP and NADPH is used to make simple sugars (such as
glucose).
▪ These simple sugars store chemical energy.
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Photosynthesis: Light-Independent Cycle
To put it briefly,

▪ Does NOT require solar energy from

the sun

▪ Occurs in chloroplast of plant cells

▪ Stroma

▪ Makes glucose sugar

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Photosynthesis
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Photosynthesis
▪ The process photosynthesis is generally represented using a
balanced chemical equation. However, this equation does not
represent all of the steps that occur during the process of
photosynthesis.

▪ In general, six carbon dioxide molecules and six water

molecules are needed to produce one glucose molecule and
six oxygen molecules.
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Photosynthesis
▪ The reactants, water and carbon dioxide are input during different
stages of the process.
▪ water is used during the light-dependent reactions
▪ carbon dioxide is used during the Calvin cycle

▪ Each of the products (oxygen and glucose) is an output of different

stages of the process.
▪ Oxygen is released during the light-dependent reactions
▪ Glucose is formed during the Calvin cycle.

▪ Solar energy is needed to split the water molecules.

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Photosynthesis
▪ Photosynthesis is the overall process by which solar energy
(sunlight) is used to chemically convert water and carbon dioxide
into chemical energy stored in simple sugars (such as glucose).

▪ The simple sugars produced by the fixation of atmospheric carbon

(from carbon dioxide) are mostly recycled to keep the Calvin cycle
(light-independent reactions) going.
▪ Some of these sugars, however, are converted to form other carbohydrates
such as glucose, starch and cellulose.
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Photosynthesis
▪ Glucose can be used by the cell for energy to make ATP during
cellular respiration or it can be converted into starch or cellulose.

▪ The sugars produced by photosynthesis also provide carbon

skeletons that can interact with elements such as nitrogen, sulfur,
and phosphorus to make other organic molecules such as amino
acids, lipids or nucleic acids.

▪ Light Absorbing pigments such as Chlorophyll, Lycopene, Carotene

and Xanthophyll are found in Chloroplasts.
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Factors Affecting Photosynthesis
▪ Many factors affect the rate of photosynthesis, including:
▪ Water
▪ a shortage can slow or stop photosynthesis

▪ Temperature
▪ photosynthesis depends on enzymes that work best between 0 and 35 C.
Temps above or below will slow photosynthesis.

▪ Intensity of light
▪ increasing light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis. The rate will
level off.
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Cellular Respiration
To put it briefly,
▪ The ultimate goal of cellular respiration is to convert the chemical energy
in food to chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
▪ ATP can then release the energy for cellular metabolic processes, such as active
transport across cell membranes, protein synthesis, and muscle contraction.

▪ Any food (organic) molecule, including carbohydrates, fats/lipids, and

proteins can be broken down into smaller molecules and then used as a
source of energy to produce ATP molecules occurs via Cellular
Respiration
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Cellular Respiration

▪ To transfer the energy stored in glucose to the ATP

molecule, a cell must break down glucose slowly in a series
of steps and capture the energy in stages.
▪ Glycolysis

▪ Electron Transport Chain

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Cellular Respiration: Glycolysis
▪ The first stage

▪ A glucose molecule is broken down into pyruvic acid molecules with

a net gain of two ATP molecules.
▪ A series of reactions using enzymes that takes place in the
cytoplasm
▪ Occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell
▪ Plant and animal cells

▪ Does not require Oxygen = Anaerobic

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Cellular Respiration: Glycolysis
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Cellular Respiration: Aerobic

▪ If oxygen is available, the two-stage process of

aerobic respiration occurs, primarily in the
mitochondria of the cell.
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Cellular Respiration: Aerobic
▪ The first stage of aerobic respiration is called the Krebs cycle.

▪ The pyruvic acid, produced by glycolysis, travels to the mitochondria

where it is broken down in a cycle of chemical reactions, from which
carbon dioxide and energy (used to form a small number of ATP
molecules – 2 ATP) are released.

▪ The main product of the Krebs cycle are energy carrying molecules
that get sent on to the next stage.

▪ Takes place in the Mitochondria

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Cellular Respiration: Aerobic
▪ The first stage of aerobic respiration is called the Krebs cycle.

▪ The pyruvic acid, produced by glycolysis, travels to the mitochondria

where it is broken down in a cycle of chemical reactions, from which
carbon dioxide and energy (used to form a small number of ATP
molecules – 2 ATP) are released.

▪ The main product of the Krebs cycle are energy carrying molecules
that get sent on to the next stage.

▪ Takes place in the Mitochondria

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Krebs Cycle
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Aerobic Respiration
To summarize,
▪ The process of aerobic respiration is generally represented using
a balanced chemical equation. However, this equation does not
represent all of the steps that occur during the process of
aerobic respiration.

▪ C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy (ATP)

▪ In general, one glucose molecule and six oxygen molecules are

needed to produce six carbon dioxide molecules and six water
molecules.
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Aerobic Respiration
To summarize,
▪ Each of the reactants (glucose and oxygen) is used during different stages of
cellular respiration. Glucose is an input of glycolysis and oxygen is an input of the
electron transport chain of aerobic respiration.

▪ Each of the products (carbon dioxide and water) is formed during different stages
of the process. Carbon dioxide is released from the Krebs cycle and water is
released at the end of the electron transport chain.

▪ Up to 38 molecules of ATP are made from the breakdown of one glucose molecule:
2 from glycolysis and up to 36 from aerobic respiration.

▪ Most of the energy released by cellular respiration, that is not used to make ATP, is
released in the form of heat.
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Cellular Respiration: Anaerobic

▪ If no oxygen is available, cells can obtain energy through the process

of anaerobic respiration.

▪ Fermentation is an anaerobic process that allows glycolysis (which is

also anaerobic) to continue making ATP in the absence of oxygen.
▪ Fermentation is not an efficient process and results in the formation of far fewer
ATP molecules than aerobic respiration. (only 2 ATP compared to up to 36 ATP)
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Cellular Respiration: Anaerobic
Fermentation
▪ Two fermentation processes that occur in many organisms are:
▪ Lactic Acid
▪ Alcoholic

▪ No matter which path is taken, which is dependent upon what

type of organism/cell, glycolysis occurs first.
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Cellular Respiration: Anaerobic
Fermentation: Lactic Acid
▪ Occurs, for example, in muscle tissues during rapid and vigorous exercise
when muscle cells may be depleted of oxygen.

▪ Also used by bacteria in the production of food products such as yogurt

and sauerkraut.

▪ The pyruvic acid formed during glycolysis is broken down to lactic acid,
and in the process energy is released, which can be used in glycolysis to
make ATP.
▪ Glucose → Pyruvic acid → Lactic acid + energy

▪ Once oxygen becomes available again, muscle cells return to using

aerobic respiration.
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Cellular Respiration: Anaerobic
Fermentation: Alcoholic

▪ Occurs in many yeast species.

▪ Pyruvic acid formed during glycolysis is broken down to

produce alcohol and carbon dioxide, and in the process
energy is released can be used by glycolysis to make ATP.
▪ Glucose → Pyruvic acid → alcohol + carbon dioxide + energy