Anaerobic Respiration

Topic 3: Chemistry of Life

Anaerobic Respiration
Glycolysis allows organisms to obtain energy in the absence of oxygen Glycolysis yields 2 AT and 2 !A"# Cells possess a limited s$pply of !A"% &f glycolysis contin$es witho$t a mechanism to oxidi'e !A"# bac( into !A"%) that step will be halted in glycolysis

Anaerobic Respiration
*rganisms ha+e e+ol+ed se+eral ways of recycling !A"% to allow glycolysis to contin$e when oxygen is not present ,$(aryotes primarily $se two main methods: -. ,thanol /ermentation 2. Lactic Acid /ermentation

/ermentation
/ermentation: transferring the hydrogen atoms of !A"# are transferred to certain organic molec$les instead of the electron transport chain

,thanol /ermentation
!A"# passes its hydrogen atoms to acetaldehyde Acetaldehyde is formed when a carbon dioxide molec$le is remo+ed from pyr$+ate by the en'yme pyr$+ate decarboxylase

,thanol /ermentation
!A"# is oxidi'ed by acetaldehyde to form !A"% This forms ethanol 0the alcohol $sed in alcoholic be+erages1 This process allows !A"% to be recycled and glycolysis to contin$e

,thanol /ermentation
The prod$cts are 2 AT ) 2 !A"%) ethanol and C*2 ,thanol and C*2 are released from the cell as waste prod$cts

,thanol /ermentation
ractical 2ses: ,thanol fermentation is carried o$t by yeast to lea+en bread 3east cells ferment gl$cose from starch and release C*2 and ethanol The C*2 gas b$bbles ca$se the bread to rise and the ethanol e+aporates away when the bread is ba(ed

,thanol /ermentation
ractical 2ses: &n wine ma(ing) yeast cells ferment s$gars fo$nd in carbohydrate4rich fr$it 5$ices) s$ch as grape 5$ice 3east cells die as a res$lt of ethanol acc$m$lation

,thanol /ermentation
/looded plants $ndergo ethanol fermentation in the roots and may die if oxygen is not ret$rned to the roots This is why it is important not to o+erwater ho$se plants

Lactic Acid /ermentation

2nder normal conditions) animals) s$ch as h$mans) cataboli'e gl$cose by aerobic respiration "$ring stren$o$s exercise) m$scle cells brea(down gl$cose molec$les faster than they can be s$pplied with oxygen 2nder these conditions) aerobic respiration slows down and lactate fermentation begins

Lactic Acid /ermentation

!A"# prod$ced d$ring glycolysis transfers its hydrogen atoms to pyr$+ate This regenerates !A"% and allows glycolysis to contin$e This res$lts in a change of pyr$+ate to lactic acid or lactate

Lactic Acid /ermentation

The acc$m$lation of lactic acid in m$scle tiss$e ca$ses stiffness) soreness) and fatig$e Lactic acid is transported thro$gh the bloodstream from the m$scles to the li+er to be bro(en down 6hen +igoro$s exercise ceases) lactic acid is oxidi'ed bac( to pyr$+ate to contin$e thro$gh the 7rebs Cycle if oxygen is present

Lactic Acid /ermentation

,xtra oxygen is re8$ired to cataboli'e lactate to C*2 and #2* !eeding extra oxygen to do so is called oxygen debt anting after stren$o$s acti+ity is the body9s way of :paying; the oxygen debt

"id 3o$ 7now<

There are two main things that happen to the body after death: -. Temperat$re drops 2. Rigor =ortis

Rigor mortis is the stiffening of m$scles &t is ca$sed by the fermentation of gl$cose in m$scle cells) leading to high le+els of lactic acid The lactic acid ca$ses m$scle tiss$es to become rigid Rigor mortis sets in m$ch sooner if death occ$rs immediately following stren$o$s acti+ity) s$ch as r$nning