Respiration

Comparing energy in carbohydrates,

proteins and fats

Use different
types of food to
calculate which will
give the most
energy

The Chemistry of
Respiration

energy and mitochondria clip

Adenosine triphosphate
The

energy released during respiration

is not used directly by cells.
Instead it is used to make a molecule
called ATP which stores the energy
until it is needed.
ATP =

Adenosine triphosphate

What does ATP do?

ATP

supplies energy for all the

processes that need it.
For example:

movement
chemical reactions
growth.

slow twitch/fast twitch investigation

Structure of ATP

adenosine

Pi

Pi

Pi

Formation of ATP
ATP is made when another molecule called
adenosine diphosphate (ADP) is bonded to
a third inorganic phosphate (Pi) using the
energy released from glucose.

Energy from respiration

adenosine

Pi

Pi

Pi

Enzymes

adenosine

Pi

Pi

Pi

Energy Rich bond formed

Summarised as:
ADP + Pi

ATP

The whole process is under the control of enzymes

The role of ATP

ATP

stores the energy in the third bond

of the molecule

The

energy is released when that bond is

broken to release the third inorganic
phosphate (Pi) .

adenosine

Pi

Pi

Pi

ATP
Enzymes

adenosine

Pi
ADP

Pi

Energy
released
to do work

Pi

Summary

ATP
ATP

cellular
respiration

cellular
respiration

energy
(out)

energy
(in)

energy
(out)

cell
cell
activities

activities

ADP + Pi

The whole process is an enzyme controlled reaction.

Aerobic Respiration
Aerobic respiration = respiration with
oxygen.

glucose + OXYGEN

energy + carbon dioxide + water

(to make ATP)

Aerobic respiration happens in 2

stages:
Stage 1 Glycolysis
glyco

glucose

lysis

splitting

In glycolysis, a glucose molecule is broken down into

pyruvic acid.
glucose
energy released to
make small
quantity of ATP
(2 molecules)

series of enzyme
controlled reactions

pyruvic acid

Glycolysis does not require oxygen

Stage 2 Breakdown of pyruvic acid

The pyruvic acid made in glycolysis
(stage1) still contains a lot of energy
It can only be broken down to release
the rest of the energy in the presence
of oxygen.

pyruvic acid

series of enzyme
controlled
reactions

energy released
to make large
quantity of ATP
(36 molecules)

carbon dioxide + water

ATP production summary

glucose
2 ADP + 2 Pi =
2 ATP

pyruvic acid
36 ADP + 36 Pi =
36 ATP

carbon dioxide + water

Summary of ATP production

Stage

1 and 2 release all the chemical

energy in one molecule of glucose to make
a total of 38 ATP molecules.

2 molecules ATP from glucose pyruvic acid

36 molecules ATP from pyruvic acid carbondioxide + water

Total 38 molecules ATP

anaerobic = in the absence of oxygen

Anaerobic Respiration

Lactic Acid Fermentation

This

occurs in some anaerobic bacteria

and fungi and in animal muscles when
there is not enough oxygen

In

this fermentation Lactic acid is

produced

Glucose

2Lactic Acid + small

amount of energy

In low oxygen conditions or

during heavy exercise, when not
enough oxygen can be supplied,
muscle cells swap to anaerobic
respiration

glucose
glycolysis still
happens as it does
not require oxygen

pyruvic acid
in absence of
oxygen pyruvic
acid is turned into
lactic acid.

lactic acid

2 ADP + 2 Pi
2 ATP

A build up of lactic acid produces muscle fatigue.

Muscle fatigue makes muscles ache and contract
less powerfully.
A recovery period is needed. During this time more
oxygen is taken in to convert the lactic acid back
into pyruvic acid again.

Summary
glucose

pyruvic acid
oxygen debt
e.g. during hard
exercise

oxygen debt
repaid during
recovery time

lactic acid

Anaerobic Respiration
in plants
The same process occurs in plants
and yeast in low oxygen conditions,
e.g. muddy, flooded soils.

Alcohol Fermentation
Takes

place in Bacteria and some fungi

such as yeast and in plants when they
are deprived of oxygen
Involves the partial breakdown of
glucose
Glucose

small

2Ethanol + 2CO2 +
amount of energy

glucose

2 ADP + 2 Pi

glycolysis still
happens, producing
2 ATP molecules

2 ATP
pyruvic acid

This time in absence of

oxygen, pyruvic acid is
turned into carbon
dioxide and ethanol

This is irreversible

ethanol + carbon dioxide

Comparison of aerobic and

anaerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration

Anaerobic Respiration
in animals

in plants and yeast

Oxygen required?

yes

no

no

Glycolysis occurs

yes

yes

yes

ATP yield

38ATP

2ATP

2ATP

Glucose completely broke

down?

yes

no

no

End products

Carbon
dioxide
and
water

Lactic
acid

Ethanol
and carbon
dioxide

Industrial Fermentation
Biotechnology

refers to the use of living

things (such as microorganisms and enzymes)
to carry our useful reactions

In

industrial fermentation the microorganisms

are placed in a container with a suitable
substrate on which they can react

The

vessel in which biological reactions can

take place is called a Bioreactor

A fermentation bioreactor

When

the microorganisms are mixed with the

substrate foam may be formed so a foam
breaker is used

Oxygen
Quality

is pumped in through a sparger

and amount of product depend on the

quality of the microorganism and substrate,
the design of the bioreactor, a correct rate of
mixing, a correct temperature and pH and
elimination of contaminating microorganisms

Microorganisms used in
bioprocessing
New

mo/s are being produced by genetic

engineering
In general bacteria and fungi (especially yeast
strains)
Bacteria can be used to make yoghurts,
antibiotics + enzymes
Yeasts can be used to make Beer and wine,
carbon dioxide for baking and single cell
protein
Fungi can produce antibiotics and citric acid

Learning Check
What

is biotechnology?
What is a bioreactor?
Why is a foam breaker needed?
What is oxygen pumped in through?
Name a few factors that affect quality
and amount of product
What types of microorganisms are
used in bioprocessing?

Bioprocessing with
Immobilised cells
To

ensure the microorganisms used in a

bioreactor are not lost at the end of
every reaction they are often
immobilised or fixed

The

microorganisms can be immobilised

by bonding them to each other bonding
them to an insoluble support or
suspending them in a gel or membrane

Uses of Immobilised
Cells/Microoragnisms
In

the treatment of sewage bacteria

and fungi may be attached to sand
and gravel and then decompose the
waste

In

the production of alcohol yeast cells

are immobilised with sodium alginate

Advantages of Immobilised
Cells
Immobilisation

cells

Immobilised

is gentle it does not damage

cells can be easily recovered

Immobilised

cells reduce the need for filtration

at the end of bioprocessing

Immobilised

cells can be reused reducing costs

Uses of Immobilised Cells

Immobilised

cells are becoming more

popular than immobilised enzymes as
it saves time isolating and purifying
enzymes which is an expensive
process

Learning Check
Why

are microorganisms sometimes

immobilised?
How is immobilisation achieved?
Can you give some examples of uses
of immobilised cells?
What are the advantages of
immobilising cells?

Differences between Aerobic and Anaerobic

Respiration
Location

Oxygen Requirements
End Products

Aerobic

Anaerobic

Cytoplasm and
Lumen and
Cristae of
mitochondria

Cytoplasm

Uses O2

Does not use O2

CO2 + H2O

Ethanol +CO2
or

Lactic acid
Energy Produced

Lots of energy
(38 ATP)

Little energy
(2 ATP)

Syllabus Can You?....

Definition

of the term: aerobic respiration.

Explain the role of aerobic respiration what does it do
for organisms?
Express aerobic respiration by a balanced equation.
State the nature of respiration from syllabus what
stages are involved, where do these take place, what
happens?
Definition of the term: anaerobic respiration.
Express anaerobic respiration by a balanced equation.
State the nature and role of fermentation.
State the cellular location of the first & second stage.
Explain the role of microorganisms in fermentation.
Explain the role of microorganisms including
bioprocessing and Bioreactors