Question

Draw a mitochondria and label the outer membrane, inner membrane, intermembrane space, and matrix. Label on your drawing the names of the 3 steps of aerobic respiration and where each of them take place.

Answer 1

Outer Mitochondrial membrane Inner Mitochondrial membrane Krebs's Cycle Intermembrane space Matrix Cristae Mitochondrial DNA Electron Transport Chain & Oxidative phosphorylation ( occurs in inner mitochondrial membrane)

Mitochondria are also known as the powerhouse of the cell because most of the energy which is required to perform different activities is produced in mitochondria. It is the place of complete oxidation of metabolite. Complete oxidation of glucose occurs under the aerobic condition and called aerobic/ cellular respiration. In the cytoplasm, glucose is converted into pyruvate via glycolysis. Pyruvate enters into mitochondria for further oxidation under aerobic conditions. Pyruvate is converted into acetyl CoA and enters into Kreb's cycle which takes place in the mitochondrial matrix. High energy compounds ( such as NADH) produced in Kreb's cycle undergo further oxidation in the electron transport chain which takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane and establishes a proton gradient with the help of proteins. Oxidative phosphorylation is coupled with the electron transport chain and produces ATP. It also takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane as protein ATP synthase which generates ATP due to established proton gradient is present on inner membrane of mitochondria. Finally, electron transferred through electron transport chain proteins to exogenous oxygen along with two protons and water molecule is formed.