Mitochondria facilitate cellular respiration, converting glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and ATP. ATP can release energy through breakdown: ATP + H2O → ADP + Pi + free energy.
Cellular respiration is a vital biochemical process occurring within the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, where energy is harnessed from the breakdown of glucose and oxygen to produce carbon dioxide, water, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
This metabolic pathway is represented by the chemical equation:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP
In this equation, glucose (C6H12O6) reacts with oxygen (O2) to yield carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and ATP molecules.
This process, known as aerobic respiration, is the primary means by which cells extract energy from organic compounds.
The energy stored in glucose is transferred to ATP, which serves as a universal energy currency within cells.
The subsequent breakdown of ATP releases energy for various cellular activities.
This breakdown is catalyzed by the enzyme ATPase and follows the reaction:
ATP + H2O → ADP + Pi + free energy
In this reaction, ATP is hydrolyzed into adenosine diphosphate (ADP), inorganic phosphate (Pi), and free energy.
This energy is then utilized by cells to drive essential processes, such as muscle contraction, active transport, and biosynthetic reactions.
Overall, cellular respiration and the subsequent breakdown of ATP play crucial roles in sustaining cellular functions and maintaining the energy balance necessary for life.