During cellular respiration Four total ATP are produced when pyruvic acid is created. What else is produced as a result of this reaction?
In addition to the production of four ATP molecules, several other products are produced during the conversion of pyruvic acid during cellular respiration. These include:
1. NADH: For each pyruvic acid molecule, three molecules of NADH are produced. NADH is an electron carrier that carries high-energy electrons to the electron transport chain, where they are used to generate more ATP.
2. Carbon Dioxide (CO2): One molecule of CO2 is released as a waste product during the conversion of each pyruvic acid molecule.
3. Acetyl-CoA: Pyruvic acid is converted into acetyl-CoA before entering the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle). Acetyl-CoA is a high-energy compound that enters the citric acid cycle to generate more ATP.
It is important to note that the production of ATP and other products during cellular respiration is a complex process that occurs in different stages (glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, and the citric acid cycle) within the cell.
During the production of pyruvic acid in cellular respiration, in addition to four ATP molecules, the following products are also produced:
1. NADH: This is a molecule that carries high-energy electrons and is used later in the electron transport chain to produce additional ATP.
2. Two molecules of CO2: These are released as waste products during the conversion of glucose to pyruvic acid.
3. Heat: Energy is released in the form of heat during the breakdown of glucose to pyruvic acid.
It is important to note that pyruvic acid is further processed in the next stages of cellular respiration, and more ATP is ultimately produced.
During cellular respiration, the conversion of pyruvic acid to produce ATP occurs in two stages: the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA, and the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle). In these two stages, besides ATP, several other products are produced:
1. NADH: During the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA, NADH is produced. NADH is an electron carrier that holds high-energy electrons and is essential for the production of ATP in later stages of cellular respiration.
2. CO2: During the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA, one molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2) is released as a byproduct. This is an important step in eliminating waste carbon atoms generated during metabolism.
3. NADH and FADH2: In the citric acid cycle, NADH and FADH2 are produced as high-energy electron carriers. These molecules carry the electrons generated from the breakdown of acetyl CoA to the electron transport chain for ATP production.
4. GTP: During one round of the citric acid cycle, one molecule of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) is produced. GTP is structurally similar to ATP and can be readily converted to ATP, providing additional energy currency for the cell.
Therefore, in addition to four ATP molecules, the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl CoA and the citric acid cycle produce NADH, CO2, NADH and FADH2, and GTP as byproducts. These byproducts play crucial roles in further ATP synthesis and waste elimination within cellular respiration.