Module 5
Cellular Respiration
What this module is about
In Module 4, we learned that the energy trapped from the sun is stored in the food as
chemical energy. Photosynthesis is an energy conversion process performed by plants.
The present module discusses another energy conversion process carried out by living
organisms wherein the stored energy in foods is being harvested.
This module contains five (5) lessons:
Lesson 1 – Kinds of Food
Lesson 2 – Mitochondrion
Lesson 3 – Cellular Respiration
Lesson 4 – Electron Transport System
Lesson 5 – Energy From a Glucose Molecule
What you are expected to learn
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. classify the foods you eat into different food groups;
2. describe the structure of the cell where cellular respiration occurs;
3. discuss the different stages of cellular respiration;
4. count the number of adenosine triphosphate produced from one molecule of
glucose;
5. describe how to tap the energy from lipids and proteins;
6. relate dieting to cellular respiration; and
7. list factors that destroy cellular respiration.
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Before you start with the lessons, familiarize yourself with the following terms:
Terms Definitions
Adenosine High energy molecule utilized by working cells as
triphosphate source of energy
Cellular respiration Catabolic process to harvest energy from foods
First step of cellular respiration wherein the six-carbon
Glycolysis glucose is broken down to 2 molecules of 3-carbon
compounds
Process wherein a substance loses electrons or
Oxidation
combines with oxygen
Process wherein a substance gains electrons or loses
Reduction
oxygen
Electron transport A series of substances that accept or carry electrons
system
Kreb’s cycle 3rd phase of cellular respiration
Metabolic poison Substance that destroys the electron transport system
Lesson 1. Kinds of Foods
Below is a collage of the different kinds of foods you normally eat everyday. It may
come from the plants directly or indirectly.
Figure 1. Kinds of Food
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The foods in the picture are either processed or unprocessed. Processed foods
include cakes, pasta, pansit and pan de sal. Examples of unprocessed foods are cooked
rice, fresh banana, boiled corn and suman. Processed and unprocessed foods are grouped
further into carbohydrates, lipids and proteins.
Why do we need food? Food is the source of energy. In order to function properly,
living organisms need energy. The energy in the food is a potential energy. Table 1 lists
the food and its corresponding amount of energy per serving.
Table 1. Nutrition Guide
Per 100 grams Energy
Food Portion size*
(3.5 oz) content
Egg
90 calories 150 calories Medium
(1 average size)
Egg (fried) 120 calories 180 calories Medium to High
Rice 420 calories
140 calories Low calorie
(white boiled) (300 g)
Rice (egg-fried) 500 calories 200 calories High in portion
175 calories
Milk 70 calories Medium to High
(250ml/half pint)
Banana 107 calories 65 calories Low calorie
86 calories per
Biscuit 480 calories High
biscuit
96 calories
Bread (white) 240 calories Medium
(1 slice, 40 grams)
Cheese 200 calories 428 calories High
Butter 112 calories 750 calories High
Sugar 20 calories
400 calories Medium
(white table sugar) (1 teaspoon)
130 calories
Corn flakes 370 calories Medium to High
(35 grams)
Cheese average 110 cals (25g) 440 cals high
Cottage cheese 49 cals 98 cals Low calorie
Cream cheese 200 cals 428 cals high
Fruit Calories per piece Carbs (grams)
Apple 44 calories 10.5
Apple cooking 35 calories 9
Apricot 30 calories 6.7
Avocado 150 calories 2
Banana 107 calories 26
Guava 24 calories 4.4
Mango 40 calories 9.5
Melon 110 calories 26
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Meat Type Calories Fat
Bacon Calories (average rashers) 500 45g
Beef Calories (average lean) 275 20g
Lamb breast (roast) 398 30g
Lamb Chops (grilled) 368 28g
Lamb Cutlets (grilled) 375 31g
Lamb Leg (roast) 270 17g
Lamb Shoulder (roast) 320 24g
Pork Belly rashers (grilled) 400 35g
Pork Chops (grilled) 340 24g
Chicken 140 calories 12 g
Lamb breast (roast) 398 calories 30g
Figure 2 is a food pyramid. The food pyramid shows you and your family the kinds of
food to eat everyday. The foods to be eaten less are found at the top of the pyramid. The
foods to be eaten more are found at the base of the pyramid. Thus, the foods to eat more
often are breads, cereals, fruits and vegetables and the foods to be eaten sparingly are
sweets and fats.
Figure 2. The food pyramid
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What you will do
Activity 1.1 How much energy do I get from the food I eat?
What you need: nutrition guide and food pyramid
paper and pencil
What to do:
1. Suppose you ate the following foods at breakfast:
a. one boiled egg
b. 250 ml milk
c. 2 slices of white bread
d. average sized cheese
e. banana
2. Using the nutrition guide, how many calories of food did you consume?
3. Using the food pyramid, do the foods you have eaten belong to the food to be eaten
sparingly? or “food to be eaten more”?
Key to answers on page 26.
What you will do
Self-Test 1.1
Direction: Write the word TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is
wrong.
1. There are bacteria in your mouth that produce acid.
2. Fiber helps reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood.
3. Thin French fries are better for you than thick chips.
4. An apple a day, keeps the doctor away.
5. You can have too much of some vitamins.
6. Only bacteria cause food poisoning.
7. Eating too much salt can cause high blood pressure.
8. Milk and cheese are good sources of calcium.
9. Starchy foods make you gain weight.
Key to answers on page 26.
The foods must be digested to simple forms such as glucose, amino acids and
triglycerides. These are then transported to cells. The immediate energy source of the cells
is glucose. Glucose inside the cell is broken down to release the stored energy. This stored
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energy is harvested in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a high-energy
molecule needed by working cells. We shall first discuss the part of the cell where ATP is
being produced.
Lesson 2. Mitochondria
Mitochondria are membrane-enclosed organelles distributed through the cytoplasm
of most eukaryotic cells. Their main function is the conversion of the potential energy of
food molecules into ATP. This organelle has important parts. What are they?
1. An outer membrane that encloses the entire structure. It contains many complexes
of integral membrane proteins that form openings. A variety of molecules and ions move
in and out of the mitochondrion through the openings.
2. An inner membrane that encloses a fluid-filled matrix. This membrane contains five
complexes of integral proteins such as:
NADH dehydrogenase
succinate dehydrogenase
cytochrome c reductase (the cytochrome b-c1 complex)
cytochrome c oxidase
ATP synthase
As shown in the diagram, the inner membrane is thrown into folds with shelf like
cristae projecting into the matrix.
Outer membrane
Inner membrane
Intermembrane
compartment
matrix
cristae
Figure 3. The Mitochondria
3. An intermembrane compartment between the outer and inner membrane
4. The matrix contains a complex mixture of soluble enzymes that catalyze the respiration
of pyruvic acid and other small organic molecules.
5. A small number (some 5–10) of circular molecules of DNA
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What you will do
Activity 2.1
1. Below is an illustration of a mitochondrion.
2. Label the parts of the mitochondrion being indicated.
Key to answers on page 26.
What you will do
Self-Test 2.1
Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. Which cell process occurs within the mitochondria?
a. exocytosis c. cellular respiration
b. cyclosis d. photosynthesis
2. The inner membrane of the mitochondria has infoldings. How do you call these
structures?
a. chromatin c. cristae
b. the middle lamella d. cytoplasm
3. Scientists think that mitochondria may have once been separate living organisms for all
of the following reasons except that they
a. have cilia and flagella c. can reproduce
b. have their own DNA d. can produce their own protein
Key to answers on page 26.
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