Question

What happens to glucose inside a cell during cellular respiration

Answer 1

Glucose turns into ATP or ENERGY during the process of cellular respiration ..
The glucose is broken down into 2 molecules of pyruvate, which are two smaller molecules. A net yeild of 2 ATP and 2 NADH result. Each pyruvate is connected to a coenzyme. The resulting molecule is called Acetyl CoA. That reaction also gives off 2 molecules of C02. The Acetyl CoA enters the Krebs Cycle, from which (through a series of steps), 2 more ATP, 6 NADH, 2 FADH2, and 6 CO2 are formed. The 6 NADH and FADH2 (which are coenzymes) move on to the electron transfer chain. Here, they give up their H+ and electrons to the chain. The electrons reduced the proteins on the chain, allowing H+ from outside the cell to be brought in. Bringing this H+ into the cell builds up the concentration. When the concentration gets high enough, the H+ wants to go back out of the cell. The only way to do this is through the ATP synthase. When is passes through this, the synthase combines an ADP with an inorganic phosphate, forming ATP. The typical yeild is 32 ATP from this, giving a total of 36 when you add in the ATP from glycolysis and the Krebs cycle.