without oxygen cellular respiration grinds to a standstill although glycolysis can continue to make some atp anaerobically for a short time explain why the oxidative phosphorylation stops why does the citric acid cycle stop
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The process of cellular respiration consists of three main stages: glycolysis, citric acid cycle (also known as Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation. During oxidative phosphorylation, the majority of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production occurs.
In the absence of oxygen, oxidative phosphorylation comes to a halt. This is because oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, which is a crucial step in oxidative phosphorylation. During this process, electrons derived from the breakdown of glucose are transferred along a series of electron carriers, ultimately reaching oxygen.
Without oxygen, the electron transport chain cannot function properly. As a result, the chain becomes overwhelmed with electrons and cannot accept additional electrons from the previous steps of cellular respiration. This leads to a backup of electron carriers, which in turn slows down or halts the production of ATP.
Similarly, the citric acid cycle relies on the availability of oxygen. This cycle completes the breakdown of glucose molecules by extracting high-energy electrons and hydrogen ions, generating energy in the form of ATP. The citric acid cycle links glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, and it requires the presence of oxygen to proceed.
In summary, both oxidative phosphorylation and the citric acid cycle stop without oxygen because oxygen is critical in the final steps of ATP production.