Question

Describe the process of energy transformation starting from reduced carbohydrates, through the metabolic cofactors (electron recipients) used in oxidative metabolism, ending with the eventual generation of ATP by ATP synthase. Be sure to specify the type of energy conserved at each step of the transformation.

Answer 1

Carbohydrates is a macromolecules which is broken down into simpler substances like glucose which is used in the generation of energy in the process of cellular respiration.

Step-by-step explanation:

Glycolysis is the first phase of respiration in which glucose molecule is broken down forming two molecules of pyruvate, two molecules of ATP, two molecules of NADH and two molecules of water. The second phase is Krebs cycle in which oxidation of acetyl-CoA occurs and energy is released in the form 2 ATP and carbondioxide. Electron transport chain is a third phase in which NADH, FADH and oxygen are the reactants producing 34 ATP and water. 34 ATP includes ATP of glycolysis and Krebs cycle.

Answer 2

Carbohydrates are metabolized by three pathways which are glycolytic pathway, oxidation of fatty acids, and the citric acid cycle. The NADH and FADH2 formed in these pathways are energy rich molecules because each contains a pair of electrons having a high transfer potential. When these electrons are used to reduced molecular oxygen to water, a large amount of free energy is liberated which is used to generate ATP. This process is known as oxidative phosphorylation.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are two type of reaction that takes place in oxidative phosphorylation which are oxidation and reduction.

First, carbon fuels are oxidized in the citric acid to yield electrons with high transfer potential. Then, this electron motives force is converted into a proton motive force and this proton motive force is finally converted into phoshoryl transfer potential. The final phase of oxidative phosphorylation is carried out by ATP synthase, an ATP synthesizing assembly that is driven by the flow of protons back into the mitochondrial matrix.