ATP Production in the Aerobic System
Overview of Aerobic Respiration
The aerobic system is our body's most efficient way of producing ATP, using oxygen to break down both glucose and fatty acids. Let's dive into how this fascinating process works!
Note
The aerobic system produces significantly more ATP than anaerobic systems, generating up to 38 ATP molecules from a single glucose molecule!
Glucose Breakdown in Aerobic Respiration
The process occurs in three main stages:
- Glycolysis
- Takes place in the cytoplasm
- Breaks down glucose into pyruvate
- Produces 2 ATP molecules
- Generates NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)
- Krebs Cycle
- Occurs in the mitochondria
- Pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA
- Produces more NADH and FADH₂
- Generates 2 ATP directly
- Electron Transport Chain (ETC)
- Located in mitochondrial cristae
- Uses NADH and FADH₂ from previous stages
- Produces most of the ATP through chemiosmosis
Tip
Think of the electron transport chain as a cellular "power plant" where most of your ATP is generated!
Fatty Acid Breakdown (β-oxidation)
Fatty acids undergo a different initial process:
- Fatty Acid Activation
- Occurs in the cytoplasm
- Requires ATP to begin
- Forms fatty acyl-CoA
