The Four Stages in Aerobic Respiration (Cambridge International A-Level Biology)
Spec point — outline glycolysis as phosphorylation of glucose and the subsequent splitting of fructose ,-bisphosphate (C) into two triose phosphate molecules (C), which are then further oxidised to pyruvate (C), with the production of ATP and reduced NAD
The four stages in aerobic respiration
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Glucose is the main respiratory substrate used by cells
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Aerobic respiration is the process of breaking down a respiratory substrate in order to produce ATP using oxygen
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The process of aerobic respiration using glucose can be split into four stages
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Each stage occurs at a particular location in a eukaryotic cell:
- Glycolysis takes place in the cell cytoplasm
- The Link reaction takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria
- The Krebs cycle takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria
- Oxidative phosphorylation occurs at the inner membrane of the mitochondria
| Stage | Description | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Glycolysis | Phosphorylation and splitting of glucose | Cell cytoplasm |
| 2. Link reaction | Decarboxylation and dehydrogenation of pyruvate | Mitochondrial matrix |
| 3. Krebs cycle | Cyclical pathway with enzyme-controlled reactions | Mitochondrial matrix |
| 4. Oxidative phosphorylation | Production of ATP through oxidation of hydrogen atoms | The inner membrane of mitochondria |
Exam Hint It’s important to know the exact locations of each stage. It is not enough to say the Krebs cycle takes place in the mitochondria, you need to say it takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria.
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