H2 Biology ASAP

RESPIRATION
Question 1 – N19/P2/Q7
(a) Describe the role of oxygen in aerobic respiration. [3]

(b) In yeast cells, less glucose is required to maintain cell metabolism under aerobic conditions
than under anaerobic conditions. Explain why. [3]

PFK (phosphofructokinase) is an enzyme that catalyses one of the steps in glycolysis. Its
substrate is fructose 6-phosphate.

Fig. 7.1 shows the effect of increasing substrate concentration on PFK activity at high and low
concentrations of ATP.

Fig. 7.1

(c) With reference to Fig. 7.1, describe the effect of a high concentration of ATP on PFK
activity. [2]

(d) Using the information in Fig. 7.1 and your subject knowledge, suggest a mechanism to
explain how ATP controls the rate of glycolysis. [3]

[Total: 11]

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EJC H2 Biology 2023
Question 2
Fig. 1.1 gives some details of the conversion of one glucose molecule to two pyruvate
molecules in a cell. Reactions 1 to 7 are catalysed by different enzymes.

Fig. 2.1

(a) What is it meant by the word ‘glycolysis’? [1]

(b) Outline the process occurring at 1 and 3. [1]

(c) Explain why inorganic phosphate is incorporated at 5. [2]

(d) In anaerobic respiration in muscles, the pyruvate produced in glycolysis is converted to

lactate. Explain the significance of this reaction. [2]

[Total: 7]

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EJC H2 Biology 2023
Question 3 – N17/P2/Q7
Fig. 7.1 shows the change in the energy of electrons as the pass along the electron transport chain
(ETC) during oxidative phosphorylation.

Fig. 7.1

(a) Carrier molecule A is the source of electrons for the electron transport chain shown in Fig. 7.1.
(i) Name the carrier molecule A. [1]

(ii) Name the stages in respiration where carrier molecule A is formed. [1]

(iii) Explain why there is only a small amount of carrier molecule A in the cell at any one
time. [1]

(b) Describe how the energy released from the flow of electrons in Fig. 7.1 results in the formation
of ATP. [3]

(c) Identify the molecule B and explain what happens at the end of the electron transport chain in
order to form molecule B. [3]

(d) Suggest how the flow of electrons in photophosphorylation is different from the flow of electrons
shown in Fig. 7.1. [3]

[Total: 12]

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EJC H2 Biology 2023
Question 4
Newborn babies have a large amount of brown fat tissues, which contains abundant mitochondria.
Brown fat cells express the protein, thermogenin, which is embedded in the inner mitochondrial
membrane. Protons flow through the channel in thermogenin instead of ATP synthase. As a result,
the proton gradient is less steep, and energy is released in the form of heat. This keeps the babies
warm.
The mitochondrial matrix has a pH of about 7.8. the intermembrane space of mitochondria in different
cells exhibit different pH values, as shown in Table 4.1.

Cells from which mitochondria are isolated pH in intermembrane space

Resting muscle 7.0
Muscle during exercise 6.8
Brown fat 7.4

(a) Explain the difference in pH values in the intermembrane space and the matrix of the
mitochondria in the resting muscle cells. [4]

(b) Explain how low oxygen concentration will cause the newborn babies to suffer from a drop in
body temperatures. [5]

(c) The respiratory processes in the mitochondria require oxygen. Explain how oxygen is
transported into the mitochondria. [2]

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EJC H2 Biology 2023