GRADE 11

2021

LIFE PROCESSES IN PLANTS & ANIMALS

CELLULAR RESPIRATION

Textbook: Page 182 – 201

Terminology
ATP: adenosine triphosphate: ATP → ADP + P (and ADP + P → ATP)

NAD+: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (carrier of energized H +)

Co-A: Co-enzyme A

Phosphorylation: Adding a phosphate group to a molecule

Definition
Cellular respiration is the process whereby the energy contained in carbohydrates is converted
to energy that can be used by cells (ATP).

Need for cellular respiration

All metabolic reactions in organisms require energy. Most of the energy comes from the sun.
Photosynthesis converts the radiant energy to chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates
(glucose & starch). During cellular respiration the glucose is broken down to release this energy
& make it available for various activities.

Mitochondria
Cellular respiration occurs in mitochondria.
Diagram:

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Mitochondria are structurally adapted for their function in the following ways:
 Oval shape provides a large surface area : volume; enough reagents can be absorbed &
products can leave.
 Semi-permeable membrane allows reagents to enter & products to leave.
 Matrix is a liquid medium for the reactions of the Krebs cycle & it contains enzymes to
catalyze these reactions.
 Cristae provide a large surface area for oxidative phosphorylation to occur.

Equations
 Word equation
Glucose and oxygen combine to form water, carbon dioxide and ATP

 Chemical equation
C6H12O6 + 6 O2 → 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + 38 ATP

Cellular respiration also produces heat, which is especially important for endothermic &
homeothermic animals.

Aerobic respiration
3 stages: Glycolysis, Krebs cycle & oxidative phosphorylation

1. Glycolysis
In cytoplasm
Requires: glucose & 2 ATP

2 phosphate groups (from ATP) bind to glucose

The new molecule is rearranged to form fructose biphosphate
Fructose biphosphate undergoes a series of reactions to split it into 2 pyruvic acid molecules
In the process energy-rich H+ are released & combined with NAD+ to form NADH
4 ATP molecules are produced. There is a net gain of 2 ATP molecules.

The pyruvic acid will be used in the Krebs cycle, while the NADH will be used in oxidative
phophorylation.

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 Glycolysis
Glucose + 2 P →→ fructose bi P
↓
↓ → 4 ATP
↓
↓ → H+ → + NAD+ → NADH (→ oxidative phosphorylation)
↓
↓
2 pyruvic acid (→ Krebs cycle)

2. Krebs cycle
Can only occur if oxygen is present
In matrix of mitochondria
Requires: acetyl-CoA (made from pyruvic acid)

Acetyl-CoA enters a cyclic series of reactions

6 CO2 are released (the glucose molecule has now been broken down completely)
Energy-rich H+ ions are released & combined with NAD+ to form NADH, which will be used in
oxidative phosphorylation.

Krebs cycle
Acetyl-CoA

CO2 x 6

H+ → + NAD+ → NADH (→ oxidative phosphorylation)

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3. Oxidative phosphorylation
On the cristae in mitochondria
Requires: NADH (from glycolysis & Krebs cycle) & oxygen

Energised H+ (from NADH) is transferred from 1 hydrogen acceptor (carrier) to the next
Energy is released at each transfer of H+.
This energy is used to produce ATP.
The steps are repeated until 36 ATP molecules have been produced & most of the energy in the
H+ has been lost.
The last step is H+ combining with O2 to form H2O.

Oxidative phosphorylation

NADH

H+

ATP

ATP

Etc.: 36 ATP

H+ + O2 → H2O

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Anaerobic respiration
Anaerobic respiration occurs in anaerobic conditions, in other words where there is a lack of
oxygen. There are 2 types that occur in different organisms & different types of cells.

1. Lactic acid fermentation

Lactic acid fermentation takes place when the oxygen in the muscles of animals has been used
up during aerobic respiration, for example during strenuous exercise. The circulatory system
cannot deliver oxygen to the muscles fast enough. Some respiration (anaerobic) does still take
place, but it is much less efficient than aerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration produces
lactic acid, which accumulates in the muscles. After the race an athlete’s heart rate, breathing
rate & depth of breathing are still high. The purpose of this is to replenish the oxygen in the
muscles (& to remove carbon dioxide that has been produced). The amount of oxygen required
to remove the lactic acid from the muscles is known as the oxygen debt.

In the cytoplasm of muscle cells glycolysis occurs exactly as it does during aerobic respiration.
Glucose is broken down to pyruvic acid, with the release of 2 ATP molecules. Pyruvic acid is
then converted to lactic acid, which, if it accumulates in muscles, makes them sore & stiff. This
process does not release a lot of energy, because the glucose is not completely broken down to
CO2.

When oxygen is available again, the lactic acid is converted back to pyruvic acid, which is sent
to the Krebs cycle. Aerobic respiration then continues as normal. It is important to do some
sort of gentle exercise if you are stiff, so that the lactic acid can be removed from the muscles.

2. Alcoholic fermentation
Alcoholic fermentation is a type of anaerobic respiration that occurs in some plants, bacteria &
fungi (yeast). It has many biotechnological applications.

Once again, glycolysis occurs as normal. In this case, the pyruvic acid is converted to alcohol &
carbon dioxide. Only 2 ATP molecules are produced, because alcohol is an organic substance,
which means that the glucose has not been broken down completely.

Alcoholic fermentation has been used by people to produce food & beverages for thousands of
years. The making of bread, wine, beer, champagne & certain types of dairy products requires
fermentation.

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Bread: yeast uses sugar as a source of glucose for the fermentation process. The CO2
produced makes the bread rise. The baking process kills the yeast & ensures that the alcohol
evaporates.

Beer: different types of cereals & grains, like barley, sorghum, maize & wheat can be used.
Beer is kept in closed containers to ensure anaerobic conditions. The bubbles in the beer are
CO2 produced during the fermentation process.

Wine & champagne: grapes are fermented in closed vats. For wine, the CO 2 is released, while
it is kept in champagne.

Dairy products: bacteria (eg. Lactobacillus bulgaricus) that produce lactic acid during anaerobic
respiration are used to make yoghurt & certain types of cheeses. Lactose is the source of
glucose. Labels on yoghurt often state that it contains live cultures of bacteria.

Biofuels: many types of plant materials, like sugar cane or maize, & animal manure are
fermented to produces alcohols. Methanol can be used as fuel in cars or to generate electricity.

Differences between aerobic & anaerobic respiration

Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration

All living organisms Some organisms eg. plants, yeast & bacteria
(alcoholic fermentation)

Most cells Muscle cells (lactic acid fermentation)

3 stages 2 stages

O2 required O2 absent

Glucose completely broken down to CO2 Glucose not completely broken down

Products: CO2 & water Products: CO2 & lactic acid or alcohol

38 ATP’s produced per glucose 2 ATP’s produced per glucose

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