What are the detailed steps of cellular respiration?

The following are the steps to cellular respiration:

• 1. glucose molecule is phosphoralated at the number 6 carbon to give glucose 6-Phosphate. The phospahate bond is created by the expenditure of one ATP----> ADP. The enzyme is glucokinase.

• 2. Glucose 6-Phosphate is oxidized to Gluconolacetone-6-Phosphate with Nicotanamide Adinine Di-Phosphate (NADP) picking up two Hydrogen atoms from the substrate molecule. The enzyme is NADPase

• 3. The Hydrogren atoms are converted to water in a reaction with Oxygen gas in the Electron Transport System. This produces energy which is stored in 3 Adenosine Tri-Phosphates (ATP).

• 4. Gluconolacetone- 6 - Phosphate is hydrolyzed to Gluconate-6 Phospahate (a ketone group converted to a hydroxyl group) using the enzyme lactanase.

• 5. The Gluconate-6-Phosphate is decarboxylated and then oxidized using gluconate-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme and NADP is used to accept the two hydrogen atoms in the oxidation The product is Ribulose-5-Phosphate. The two hydrogens react with oxygen gas to form water with the production of energy in the form of 3 ATP molecules produced within the Electron Transport System.

• 6. Ribulose-5-Phosphate can now be used in the synthesis of DNA and RNA.

Revised: 8/20/97

Return to Home Page

Return to biochemistry questions