Chapter 2.

4
Cell respiration
desert rat
Human exercise
Yeast
a. Food industry

1). Food fermentation

Yeast transforms the

carbohydrate decomposed
by starch in the flour into
CO2 and other chemical
elements and makes the
dough fluffy under the
effect of the gas
a. Food industry

2). Beverage and alcohol field

Yeast is used in winemaking,

where it converts the sugars
present in grape juice (must)
into ethanol. Yeast is
normally already present on
grape skins.
A pure yeast culture is usually
added to the must
b. Industrial fermentation
With the current energy shortages around the world the
production of fuel ethanol through yeast fermentation
has become an inevitable trend.
1. The definition of cell respiration
1. The definition of cell respiration

• Cell respiration is the controlled release of energy

from organic compounds to produce ATP.

• Respiration is NOT breathing.

• ATP from cell respiration is immediately available as a

source of energy in the cell.
1. The definition of cell respiration
1. The definition of cell respiration

Carbohydrates and lipids are often used, but amino acids

from proteins may be used if we eat more protein than
needed.
1. The definition of cell respiration
Animals, plants, fungi, and most protists depend on
mitochondria for energy to grow and survive
 Outer
mitochondrial
membrane
Intermembrane
compartment
(between inner and
outer membrane)

Inner mitochondrial membrane:

• electron transfer
• ATP synthesis by ATP synthase

Matrix (inside both membranes):

• reactions removing electrons from fuel
molecules (pyruvate oxidation, citric
acid cycle)
2. Oxidation and reduction

Cell respiration involves the oxidation and reduction

of compounds.

Oxidation and reduction are chemically processes

that always occur together. This happens because
they involve transfer of electrons from one substance
to another.

Oxidation is the loss of electrons from a substance

and reduction is the gain of electrons.
Cell respiration involves the oxidation and reduction
of compounds.

Reduction can be achieved by accepting atoms of

hydrogen, because they have an electron. Oxidation
can be therefore be achieved by loosing hydrogen
atoms.

Adding oxygen atoms to a molecule or ion is

oxidation. In similar way, loosing oxygen atoms is
reduction.
Electron carriers are substance that can accept and
give up electrons as required.
3. The process of aerobic cell respiration
3. The process of aerobic cell respiration

• Aerobic cell respiration requires oxygen and gives

a large yield of ATP from glucose.

• Aerobic cell respiration involves a series of

chemical reactions. Carbon dioxide and water are
produced.
a. Glycolysis
a. Glycolysis

• Enzymes break a 6-carbon

molecule of glucose into
two 3-carbon molecules of
pyruvate

• Some ATP is synthesized

by substrate-level
phosphorylation

• Inside cytoplasm
b. Pyruvate oxidation and the Citric Acid Cycle
b. Pyruvate oxidation and the Citric Acid Cycle

Active transport moves

pyruvate into the
mitochondrial matrix
where pyruvate oxidation
and the citric acid cycle
take place
b. Pyruvate oxidation and the Citric Acid Cycle

• All available electrons are

transferred to 3 NAD+ (NADH)
and 1 FAD (FADH2)
• Each turn of the citric acid cycle
produces 1 ATP by substrate-level
phosphorylation
c. Oxidative phosphorylation
c. Oxidative phosphorylation

• The H+ gradient supplies energy that drives ATP

synthesis by mitochondrial ATP synthase

• The terminal electron acceptor (O2) is easily

reduced and water is produced.
4. Anaerobic cell respiration

• When oxygen is absent or limited, electrons

carried by the 2 NADH produced by glycolysis
may be used in fermentation

• There are two types of fermentation, lactate

fermentation and alcoholic fermentation.

• Anaerobic cell respiration gives a small yield of

ATP from glucose. Glucose is broken down in
anaerobic respiration without using any oxygen.
a. Lactate fermentation
b. Alcoholic fermentation
5. Aerobic cell respiration and anaerobic cell
respiration

Compare aerobic and anaerobic cell respiration !

Compare aerobic and anaerobic cell respiration [8 marks].
Similarities:
Both can start with glucose.
Both produce pyruvate (by glycolysis)
Both produce ATP
Both produce CO2 in plant cell.
Differences
6. Application to measure the cell respiration

A respirometer is
any device that is
used to measure
respiration rate.
6. Application to measure the cell respiration

• A sealed glass or plastic container in which the

organism or tissue is placed.
• An alkali, such as potassium hydroxide, to
absorb carbon dioxide.
• A capillary tube containing fluid, connected to
the container.
Temperature Movement of fluid in respirometer
( ℃) (mm min-1)
1st reading 2nd reading 3rd reading
5 2.0 1.5 2.0
10 2.5 2.5 3.0
15 3.5 4.0 4.0
20 5.5 5.0 6.0
25 6.5 8.0 7.5
30 11.5 11.0 9.5
6. Application to measure the cell respiration