About ATP Avenue

Run a glucose molecule through glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain in this free online cellular respiration platformer game.

ATP Avenue is a free online cellular respiration game where you play a glucose molecule platforming through the three stages of aerobic respiration. You sprint through glycolysis in the cytosol, lap the Krebs cycle wheel in the mitochondrial matrix and ride the electron transport chain along the inner membrane to the ATP synthase turbine.

Every mechanic maps to real biochemistry. Glycolysis splits glucose into two pyruvate and nets 2 ATP plus NADH. The Krebs cycle runs twice per glucose, releasing carbon dioxide while loading NADH and FADH2 electron carriers. Those carriers feed the electron transport chain, which pumps protons across the membrane to build a gradient. Oxygen waits at the end as the final electron acceptor, and ATP synthase spins on that gradient to stamp out the roughly 36 ATP jackpot.

The stakes are real: your own cells run this exact assembly line right now. When oxygen runs short, muscles fall back on fermentation, a detour that yields only 2 ATP and leaves lactate behind, which is why sprinting burns. Understanding respiration explains everything from why we breathe to how athletes train and why mitochondria are called the powerhouse of the cell.

Key Science Concepts

• Glycolysis and pyruvate splitting
• Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle) intermediates
• NADH and FADH2 electron carriers
• Electron transport chain and proton gradient
• Chemiosmosis and ATP synthase rotation
• Aerobic versus anaerobic respiration and fermentation

What You'll Learn

• Order and locate the three stages of cellular respiration
• Explain why oxygen is required for maximum ATP yield
• Compare aerobic yield (about 36 ATP) with fermentation (2 ATP)
• Connect electron carriers to the proton gradient and ATP synthase

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

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How to play

1. Run and Jump Steer glucose with arrow keys, A/D or the touch pads. Press Space, W or the jump pad to hop gaps.
2. Harvest ATP Collect ATP tokens through all three stages. About 36 total is the real cellular jackpot.
3. Charge Carriers Grab NADH and FADH2 in glycolysis and two Krebs laps. They cash out big at the turbine.
4. Keep Breathing In the electron transport chain grab every O2. Run out and you sink into low-yield fermentation.
5. Stomp Radicals Land on ROS radicals to destroy them. Touching their sides burns membrane integrity.
6. Spin the Turbine Ride protons into ATP synthase to unleash the ATP rain. Catch as many as you can!

Frequently asked questions

Is ATP Avenue free to play?

Yes. ATP Avenue is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, install or account needed.

What grade level is ATP Avenue for?

ATP Avenue is designed for Middle School, High School students and works well as a classroom activity or homework.

Does ATP Avenue work on phones and tablets?

Yes. ATP Avenue runs in any modern browser on desktop computers, Chromebooks, tablets and phones in landscape mode.

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