Aerobic metabolism

Aerobic metabolism, also known as cellular respiration, is the multi-step biological process through which cells utilize oxygen to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) [1][2]. This process occurs primarily within the mitochondria and involves several integrated stages, including the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), the electron transport chain (ETC), and oxidative phosphorylation [1][3]. While aerobic metabolism is a complex physiological pathway rather than a single molecular target, its constituent components—such as individual enzymes and mitochondrial complexes—are frequent targets for therapeutic intervention and toxicological study [4][5]. For example, the drug metformin acts by inhibiting Complex I of the ETC, while cancer therapies often target the 'Warburg effect,' a metabolic shift where malignant cells bypass aerobic metabolism in favor of glycolysis even in the presence of oxygen [2][4]. Dysregulation of this pathway is a hallmark of various conditions, including metabolic syndrome, mitochondrial DNA disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's [3][5].

Other names

Cellular respirationAerobic respirationOxidative metabolismMitochondrial respiration

Inhibition of the electron transport chain (Complexes I-IV), uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation from ATP synthesis, and inhibition of ATP synthase or citric acid cycle enzymes [1][3][5].