on s~

·CHAPTER /.14 e
I
. -
REsPIRATIO!' IN

14.1 Do Plants
All of us_breathe to live, bµt why is breathing so essential to life? What
Breathe? happen~ when we breathe? Also, do all livingorganisms, including plan~
14.2 Glycolysis and microbes, breathe? If so, h9w? J
All living organism~ need energy for carrying out daily life activities,
14.3 Fermentation
be it a.QsQrpttonT t;art~port; mov.f:rfienf\J:ieprgd\1cti~n ~r~ ven breathing.
1

14.4 Aerobic Whe_re does ~f thjs ·en~r~ ; ~...°1!1~fr~m?vWe ~ow we eat food for energy-
Respiration but how is this energy taken from food?_ How is this energy utilised? Do
all foqds give the same amount of energy? Do plants ~eat'? Where do plants
14 5
· The Respiratory · get their ' energy from? And · mfcro-organisms - for their energy
Balance Sheet
requirements, do they eat '.food'?
14.6 Amphibolic You may ~onder at the several questions raised above - they may
Pathway seem to be very disconnected. But in reality,' the process of breathing is
14. 7 Respiratory very much connected to the process of release of energy from food. Let us
. Quotient try and understand how this happens. ,. · ·
All the energy required for 'life' processes is obtain~d by oxitlationof
t
,some macromolecules that we cail 'food'. Only green plants
cy!11-obacterta can prepare their own food; by the process o p o
they trap light energy and convert it nrto cftemica.J energy that is stored
..\.. the bonds of carbohydrates lik~ gii:.cose, sucrose and starch. We
~\ remember that in green plant~ too, no_t all cells; tissues and 0
photosynthesis · cells containing chloroplasts, that are moS t .
located in th supe 1c , cany ou ~p • • ii "--
in, green p an s s, tissues and cells that are non;
n~ed food for Oxidation. Hence, food has to be translocated to all
g;;,;n P<iJ;s· Animals are heterotropfuc, i.e., they obtain fooaffi

--H ./
 227

~ tlY (11erbtvores) ordindirectly d (carnivores)·· s aprop h ytes Uke fungi

.,- fl de!lt oil dead an
all th fi d ecaying matter. What t s lmportant to recognl are
i-.r'pt·t \l1~.-natelY
IP'' W;"-
e ooa tha t ~·s res - ired• for life
•
n
r ~r0s;es~~S c;owes f.-
se
,tlJ8.
·_wsy!l
t11esis. This chapter oe s with cellular
-· d f fi
"""gm
..... · on or the
tbZ
· ..;.bafUS i~ Jil of break own o ood materials within the cell t
f thi 1
o re ease
F'"" . d tbe trapping o s energy for synthesis of ATP
Af\{ ari - - -f
:iie1i,..,~tosyrithesis, o course, takes P1ace within the chloroplasts - - ·- (in the
pb
_rtrotes ,) whereas
. the breakdown
r=:
of
. .
complez umle~les - 't'
to'"'
ld
J,,;.e ener~
~1:LJJ 1ace i!l the cytop1asm and I ~ tochon d ria (also only 1n
-1'es es). _!>'5reaking
iffffii=u~o;-f~1:h~~~~-;:.fl~
o~n :~a~sro~f~c~o~m o:m!p:o:umi~s
~ p;Je;x~ c~
. ,adatton wiffiiii ffie ce 8 • g to {e cons1 b1e
€ ~is c alled res~~_jn- The compounds that are oxidised
~ ;°1own as respirator.y substrates. Usually

~~.:se
~g

,g~
t s are
oxidised to release energy, but proteins fats and e ven
can be usec.!_!!5..'!c'Pirato'iy_!u bsbflce5 in = ~ pt,pls..JJtidrr
ounng oxidation within a c~ll, all the ~.:W contained
crfaiI1 ~t~rf§ubstrates is not re sed free mto the cell, or in a single
!fl'eSP~a O
It 1s re
leased in a series o slo tep-wise reactio~s controlled by
-....- _,,.-•\.~ ;,--.:)(-......;:.....---"'"!"'-- - -
~ - d it is trapped as che... .u.•-.,u.i energy in th~ form of ATP. Hence,
:PZYI?es, an _.. . 1 , ,
_.;,. ortant to understand that the ~ gy_E~~~d bl!,xi~ a~ n in
ll5 ~~on is not (or rath!.1" cannot be), u ~_s! .diref!!y J2Ht is_J.1se,.d to
ese . "'TP which is broken down . . whenever (and )Xherever) energy
l)'!!thes1se
~ .n. tilised. Hence,' ATP acts as the energy currency; of the cell.
, - -

~ gy trapped in ATP is utilised in va ·OJ:t energy-requiring

[1iis ener e org · d the~car ~ b:..o:..n~ )o.k:::;
, e:::
le::;t::;
o:;n-e--r_o_d-:u=c~e-d_.d-:u~ring 1 , 1 ~1

JfOCesses Of th -:; ·
~~a_!:!.on ~ used~;::i,.J:=.;;;.,c___,...;...---- other mg.!.e cules jn

-
thecell.

14.1 Do PLANTS BREATHE?

it_.._]
Well, th~answer to this question isfl~ t ..,ql!ite so:,i.dfecV
~
Yes, plants re~e
~ or respiration to occur and they also give out CQ2. Hence, p\ants have
systems in place that ensure llie availability of OQ. Plants, unlike anb:p.~ . ·
-r,-::~:;s~~ ~:.Q!!~ ~~ a.is~e~o~ .change ~ ey hav~ m a"~
ere are several ~easons ~hy plairts-eair'
s. First, each plant part takes care oi
· 1 itiiectransport of gases from
· --- .. .... .. _,.ds
than
ase's'
of its o eeds-
. , ability of 0 2 !snot .
cells smce 0 2 is released within the cell. Third, the
 u st diffuse even in large, bulky niant
,nrP.tllfltgases m
dist~ lant is locat · close to e surfac
Each llvin cfie leaves', you ma what abo
'This is tnte or .
d roots?' In s tems, the livin
and beneaththe bark. They als
an - dandpro
- the interior are dea
in- -~:-=i~ - ~i-e-a ·s·tap
i

e oo~e Q
is - -- .
and m ots, which pro e an in. - - .- -
- Toe complete co t~E:.:j,=~ '€~
-~ ~~ which produc
as end products~ ·ch is given o
C 6 H 12 0 6 -~ 02 +6H20+Ener

!fip_s us~fu!_ to ~~!t _s~2,.llld.Q~ bl~ to Utilise it

synthesise ot:1;er I_!l~~s .tb..<!tJh~ c~Jl reqy rres. The strate
plant cell uses is to catabolise the glucose molecule in such a way
not all the li~e__:_ated ene.:_~~oes-~~t_:5~ eat. 1:1_e key is to oXidise glu
not in one step ~ ev::~~~r sm~ -~ ~ g·snme-steps fobe"J
large enou h such th ,
s~sis. How this isdoneis'"7ess en tfally7 ffie s my of respiration . .
. During the process of respiration, oxygen is utilised, and
dioxide, water and energy are released as products. '1be combusti(ll
reaction requi:res ·oxygen~ But some cells live where oxygenmayor may
not be available. Can you _ihink ofsuch situations (and organismsJ wherr
· 0 2 is not available? · Tuer~ are sufficient reasons to believe that the first
cells on this planet lived in an atmosphere that lacked O XVWJ.:
'among present-day living organisms, we know of several that are'adapted
to anaerobic conditions. Some of these organisms fa~~ti~ are
-~ms:~tam
anaerobes, while in others m e requiremenr for anaerobic"'conditi0E)
roJ?u -an~case: allllw:i - the enzymatic mo<:llJn"l
.
· to . - artiall This o
,_o'fg!ucose to pyruvic aci<i is ·c
-
14.2 GLYCOLYSIS

, . . ,d tycosfors
The term glycolysis has ortgtnated from the Greek wor 5• g

---.....~ · or s lit · e sch· eme of glycolysis was gtve

--. . , and i§_ 9ften r efe~ .
~ ~~iPi: · ~rue' ~nlvorO!;~ ntill a11uvW
~ C~~~~!'!'~ -~...-;-.
rs 1n
-
- ==- - -IS~~
e ce
ll an
- dis prese . . .~ 10 foflll
_ -- -:dati~·on .
. ~ ~ ~~~;;:;-;;:-r,_.--.~ artial OXl
orgaru_::~ s. In this p~o . ,.., .. . n ~ergo~s P _ ~°'"'de~Y ~
.
 f ~fft~~ -

. tes. Su~rose is ~nverted into glucose

~ y the enzyme, tnv en:ase. ana illese
p~ adily enter the glycolytic
v,ay, Glucose and fruc to se are
~ horylated to give rise to glucose-6- Gl(uco111e
Jo.S ff
hate by the activity of tne _enzy ~
· • ..
ADP _
6F
l ~~"°
. - s phosphoiylated fonn o 1glucose
I,.,..t,,.....,""""""'
·
1fi2i:!:B>,--, G!ucose-6-phosphate ·
. d f (6Cl ,
menses to pro uce ructose,± .
~:P!!'h;;;;, subsequent steps of metafou.in of
a ,~hosphat< ·
150
;.;;;,and fro~ !¥" sanie.°The'vaiious .r'eps
~1ys1s are deprctelt'ln Figllre 1_4. I. In ..,( ADP • • no ·
· cotysis, a chain o eactions, under the Fructosel. 6-bisphosphate

~trOI of,§ :a:;nt e . • e,s, t ~s place to · ·~ ·

~uce
rvu p· yruvate from glucose. While studying
. · . Trtose phosphater-::::: Trtose phosphate
e Step5 of gtycolySIS, please note the steps at (gfyceraldebyde-a-phoophatel - (DlhydroxY _.,..,.,
th • f "''TP · ( . A\o~o- phosphate)
1iJICb utiliSatlon or syn ems o n or in this C) NAIi' ,\<io« ,,......,__ (3CJ _ .

llStl NADH + tt+take place. t9D~~ . -

ATP is !!Pised at hy~ ,s_!eps: fir~t.}n 1Jie 2 x Trtose btsphosphate
·.,,;ersion of ucose into glucose 6-phosRhate (1,3 bisphqsphoglyceric acid)
,.. -- ' (3C)
O
second in the conversion of fructose
~ ;;;tr
ADP
Jo fructose ~:,.6-b!sph~~~_!:~ II.\&
The fructose 1, 6-b1sphosphate 1s spilt
· .
l'l>o~.).",,..~"')
2 x Triose phosphate
f
nt§:.dJ~~oXE~!:..tone _p~!,; and _ (3-phosph~fteric acid) ,

1-phos ho lyceraldeh ~e !fG~ LL We find . 1frios h :7

bat_ ere ls step wh~~ NADJ! + Wis . ,ti: f
'or.med from NAO+; this is - w n en~
-aglxc:eraldeeyde..{BGAf.)..is converted 2 x 2-phosphoglyc;erate

• l. 3-b!sphosphostl,'.cera~e (BPG1 l- Two @ ~,,.;,,,(1-'S",J·

redox-eqiiivalents ar.e removed in the fonn of
lwo hy gen atoms from
.
d transferred. -- - 2 x phosphoenolpyruvl!-te
to a mo ecule of NAD+. {!'QID; is oxioise.d and ADP · ·f P'{~~ , ·
lli!norgan!c O .. te'to etco.;erted irifo ,- +rf~ -~-";"
A. 'The conversion · of · BPGA t o 2 x Pyruvic
3 acid ·
3":'phosphoglycert~ acid (PG.A), is also an energy l Cl
yielding process; this energy is trapped by the Figure 14.1 Steps of glycolysis
fodnnatlon of ATP. Another ATP is synthesised J l~ + N~t\+~-t
,_-./
l
urtng
.. the conversi9i:i- ,i'i'
ofNI'l"IEll'lf'~
to- p"""y...1-crViC"" ac'id.
many
:r:res
Can you then calculate how
are directly synthesised
. ay from pneglucose molecule?
in ATP
this (~

l PyruVic
. ac1·d IS
· t h en the key product of
.,1.colysis.
g
pyru s J
Wh t
a is. the. metabolic
. . . - fate of -
vate? This depends oriffie cellular n~~ -
(
 230 - - - · - - .........-~- - - - ___ .....____ BiaJ
A yoUv1·c a·6d r . ~aq
1 +o . ~ - _5:;°)'4 \,j '-11)-m
o.c,.'d la:l CfeJb'1 b. ,, C {.a.g.eb~ ~ .: .
. Q..a There ar three major wav:s_w. which .dlfferent cells handle PYnlVi

·
oIL 1o,
.
,
~ - c- G '1 • Z) · <~
:-o
n
F-1-1N
W," t
- --
a produced by glycolysis. These are 1ac tic a~1.ds fiermentatic:m ale chacii
.,._. - -
3 - -<-a-, fermentation and aerobid-respir tion. Fermentation t
\
1--1
- - - -- .
anaerobic con 1 10ns m man ~ ok~ .
an umcell
• • o Oti
plaee..~ '
'lU!}Cfe

' . .la~~ P'or i:ne o• oxidation.~ te

co~!g CQ2 ~gl!20~ ~~
) adopt ebs' eye
0 2 supply.
~.t;.-.~~=~
·
~-~ -~
hich is al§.Q.c.ruk,q as aer.,o,b1u es~· tion..Ibis.r~
· ·
'-4.J..l~

1
-l-1' ' \
2f"j oU\J t(_ ~ . f ~ ~ 14~3~ F'ERMENT.t\JION ( Pt~t d1~r~Qd ~,,>' ~ t)
+
cu..tlq . ,D~7'~if . . . .. -
· . ""•Nt:,o
;.! o<.tl~t
Leo~ ·•In j[eil;n.entation, say 1·by yeast,
· d
the incomplete ·oxidation of glucose 11.
. l ~ /0 t \?~°"o~ achieved under anaero6ic conditions by sets of r_eactions where PYfUVic
_ ·_ - acid is cqnverted to CO 2 and ethano,!:.. The enzymes, . pyruVica'cic
a~u-, n.t= ' "' s. "~ --;;arbo" la~eand alcoholaehyctrogenase catalyse these reac--tions. O
e fuei
• &t , organisms like s!:me ~~ct£ria produce lactic acid from pyruvic acid. The
steps involved are shown in Figure 14.2. In animal cells al~ les
during exercise, ~ J!ie1{bxy,gen is inadequate for cellulai; respiqltion pyruVi~
acid is reducecL.t_g· lactic acid by lactate dehydrogenase. The reducinc
~ - - -,.,~ _ c
~~en! i~~~JJ!!~ : 'Jh!ch is reoxidised to NAD:Jp. bqtn the proc~~es.
-~t-:~~'l<'. ...~-n rn.- oofh lactic acia-""ana ~ j
• • - .::1 ferme - ti n notmuch energy- is re:leased;less
l P!Rf J'llf ,.,.,---
~

Glucose th ve er cenrofthe ener~ se

ll 41~ ea,se ana·~T&!..ot J! i,[[agpe<l 9
~J?;tbpnas,,.pf AJP... Also, the processes are
ll . hazardous - either acid or alcohol is
- Glyceraldehyde
· 3-PhoSphate
Lactic 2rortu'ceci. What is .the. net ATPs that is
· ,m q "W •

acid synthesised (calculate how many ATP are

L
NAD..• _ NAD• synthesist::d and deduct the number of ATP
utilised during glycolysis) when one molecule
· · •, NADH+ff of glucose is fermented to alcobol or lactic
NADH:tH• . :..i~ nH,w

· . \c.
3~Phosphoglycertc acid? ~ ~oison thems_elves tO ~ i .
r
·
acid

911 / '
Pyru .
acid
VICNADH ff
+ ~
. ====
ffie concentration of alcohol reac es 0
A " P.tL ce,nl. What then .. wou rtrb .11 .
-lm~imum concentration of alcohol;?
_ ·.D, \' NAD· v be~erages that are natur~Uyferrnente of
Phosphoenol 1 How do you think alcoholic beverages
Pyruvic acid Ethanol+CO2 • • ·. tratiOU
alcohol content greater than this concen · .
are obtained? -6 ts--tt~ j'T'l'l~-
Figure l4.2 · Major pathways of anaerobic .-~-- hicb
What ,then is ·the process by w . n
respiration
organisms can carry out complete Oxidati to
0

C
of gh; ~o~~--~ d extract the energy stored ·
 ~J~TION IN Pl.ANTs

2a1
wt~;:_
e a larger number of' ATP molecul
w es is · ee -need d i
ff1 )isJil? ln eukaJ"Yotes these.steps take place or cellular
,euitJO equtres 0 2 • Aerobic is the e _!!1itochonc1rta
th
rid ~~ r ~affl;ii of organic .s ubstances in the p~:ocess at lead~ a
1ete 0,-µ sence of oxy
oiJlP co ,water anti a large amount of energy pres · t . gen, anct
el~ses e of respiration is most common in higher :g:u~e substrate.
:tit~tYP processes in the next section. ms. We Will
i tthese .
ool<a
. j\£BOBl0 }bSPIRATIOi )
14,4 . .•
. resptratlon to take place within the mttochondrt
erob1C a, the final
for a f colysis, pyruvate is transported from the cyto 1
1
proc1Pct 0h ndria, The crucial events in aerobic respiration: ~m into
nutoC O ~-
tb~ plete oxidati?n of pyruvate by the stepwise removal of all
the hyarogenatoms, leaving ~ ee molecules of co 2.
fo~ of the el~ctro~ s removed as part of the hydrogen
0~
atoms to molecular~ ~ th sunultaneous synthesi~.9! ATP.
::.:----= .
What is interesting to ~ote is thatthe first process takes place in th.:.
. of the mitochondna while the second 1>rocess is located on- the
~ mbrfille of the mitochondria. . · · .
iJUlerroe • •
- vate, whit h is fanned by the glycolytic catabolism of car~
In ~ytosol. after it enters mitochondrial i_namx undergo~
decarbox:ylation by complex set of reactions catalysed b ~ yru ~~ vi·~c~ - - - - - : - - - -
Toe re~ . o~s c ysed brpvruvic dehydrogenase reguire ra,n / ~,nc: ,xr--(
C - r - . .:. .'l.'C.::..f!
:f :. .S.\-1
: ~ \S\1~ -a-x
~ "·.
~IJarti...£!.J2ation .. v: oe · eA
Pyruvtcacid.fjy- NAD' ~=-----:-"-~iF-..--~---:w. . ., _~ ._- CO2 +NADH + Ht J
fNADH are produced from the
metabolism of two molecu es of vie ac1 oduced from oJJ.e,glucose
mole~uledurtng gJ.ycolysis). . . , . s-o 'ot,C.O.Ll~. t n ~~
The ~ oA then enters a cyclic pathway.:,.tri_c arboxylic acid cycle, ha~ , - c.c'Ott. •
more coqunonly called as Krebs' cycle after the scientist Hans Krebs who~ t.OlUd o.~~
first elucidated it. . fl -+ht .tt.~ ~c.o.a.u't
r J .
ts ct~ c.__c ~
r1m
L _ _ _ ,. ,..\

. 1
J1!fflU&.'-"

~: ·4 •1 Tri~arboxylic Acid.~ycle rtrrs~ WJ.~- ~ - Ii" ~ "17\U ~ct» 1~ '\ .

TCAcyclestarts "thth - -- ~/
acid (OM) WI e condens~Q.I]. of &ce.tylgrQ.UE with oxaloac ·c
~ @.!oyield citric acid (Figure 14.3). The reactio~"is -
Citrate is thy e_enzym Ci fe synffiase antt a molecule of. ~ ;feasecl.
sr-:
eps of decarb
en 1some se O SOCl a e. It is toll"'owea byrwo successf'7~
;;:::;:>-

~ oxylati n, eading to- the formation of a.-ke~ltltaric h:cta..a

1
l:tuO:,~ . en 3y...-.s · .. . in ,m ,¼ d\-ordin~ (ti"!ll"''I- eccf
----..=~ ~ •-<-n ,s ~ --·· ...- '··- ., ,n'f\C-'r
~•--to
 .. u. ; P-c.on ii:IQ' -, ~ - ~:.1tc aA'·d

l
Pru. "/, ·u
-,A
t- . .
Ct.:w-t"c
o..c....~ f-t -t-'<" \.;" _:_,;:, r~-.t
A Q11 ,'ml<.'
w. 1-iO ttpO · (!) • . laO 1-111. 0

5 1.t co'rw, / _ Stac:Clh¥ <;_ , L

G-, / t.l'f:; N~H_,. o(- \({> ~
. o.Jh•J ~ c.(Q~ air-csi..lc
,,,,____ _ soc.c...'n ic
, an~ c.e -{)r)' 0-. d e ~e .
, , Cl nV -
232 - - . 8:i ,-n:Jf"O.s'(
0)
· .
S\icc:.t'11Q-lr_ ~.®-A-cit¼
.( )I ) - 'Mo!U1 f+-u'

· Pyruvate \-{CJ and - --~ - -

of ct
:~~~ ;-'© l3CJ
CoA~ t :" NADH+W
N ·•
. to0M allo
1

~ CCt<Xtt(>
U XJ.TyJAAcetyl
h-
coenzymecoA
2 ...
.
Ji;,:,;-:;:;id
e""ic;f~:f;
onf.vJe!r~
1 s~;;-~;:--:;~~~~~~Ql~~~~r-~,-;;:.£~.;~i
::
tt) t'~ ~ . . \ ~ I J L ~ ~ CJ . Lac amoe ,,, __ "'=
Yf\; - . a substrpt e level phospho
oxaloacetic acid coupled reaction GTP ts conve
(4C) Citric acid -"

1
1- -
r~ 16Cl co2 ~ siiµu tane thesis o
NAO. _. · N~ 'C.
!!! _. Also there are points tn
· · a-ketoglu~ acid NAD+1s reduce to NADH +
Malle acid (~Cl wh e~e FAD+ ts, reduced t
(4C) CITRIC ACID CYCLE
.
'
~ CO
c d oxidation of ace
2

,,C~~
' ,

FADH2~ ,- ,.
-~,
FAD , ' ,. .
Succlnlc acid • C GDP1-. ~
- (4C) • - .
an ·FAD+ from NAD
respectively. The summary equation
Figure 14.3 . The Citric acid cycle
phase of respiration may be Wlitten as fl
• . - , en eeli
· ,- · · . the
Y~C
·1
Pyruvicacid+4NAD+ +FAD+ +2H 2 0+ADP+Pi - - - - - - - - --3C0 + 4NADH +
Mitochondrial Matrix
2

·•
We have till now seen .that e has been b
CO2 an
. AD H+ two
SYQfu..§·-!~
:- .....-~ .- --:--~ ~ olecules ATP • t . I

wonde . g w iscussing respir ". • • I

has come into the picture nor the promised large num. er o
been synthesised. Also what-is the.role of the NADH + H+ and F.
is synthesised? Let us now understand the role of 0 in respir
2
how ATP
.. . is synthesised:
...

,14.4.2 Electron -Tr~sport System (ETS) and Oxidatl .

'·· Phosphorylation
The following .step~ in the respiratocy. process are to release and.
the energy stored in NADH+H+~ d FADH2 This is accomp s
they are oxidised through the electron transport sy e -· -- d the el
are passed ·on to 0 2 result:'i'iig in · the ·formation H2-0. _The me
-pa thway through which the-electron- passes-from o erto
is called the ele on .transport system (ETS) (Figure 14.4) an
present in th nner mitoc on ri membran . Electrons from
 ~~m
:::-~~,_,=~~-:----.....-:~ -~b
~ s CJ. '"~~t" ~ IN dl• .u ~
Jllltochondrtal matrix r---;----------
1
't--i'ac..0., ,

t1te cle are oxidised by an ·

ctd cyase (~omplexl), ana• Matrix

transferre

NAO'
) that ts generatek
ucctnate 1n the citric
reduced u tqutnone
en oxidised with the
ns ·to cyto_chrome c Via
omplex (complex III).

Comptex'm
(Cytochrome be,)

e electrons pa - one
another via complex I to,IV 1n
e ele rt chain,
th ase (compl r
.c ITP fro~
·1norga,nic phosphate, 1:he number of ATP,
roo ec es syn .e sea - depends on tpe
nature of the
....-,
one mole~u
-

Figure 14.4 Electron Tnmsport System (ETS)

tal, since it drives

rom the isfem.' Oxygen
otophosphorylation wheie it is
for the production of proton gradient required for · ITC , l"lhib:,tti..-.5' · c
phosphorylatlon,· tn respiration it is the-energy of oxidation-reduction J; / ~ nzt: j
utilised for the same process. It is for this reason that the process is called CT> l> / w 't U b'1
_2~dal:!_ve phosphorylation . G,i~n by' ~ lr · M 1W1tl1 -
You have already studied.about thr m ~pfmembrane-linke~ . >'{;1-.J ~ - ,
4IP- ~Y-U...thesis as explained by chemiosmotlc hypothesis in the earlier - c o/!: 7' c I
cha,!>_ter. As mentioned earlier, lne ·energf releaseoauring the ~lectron l ~l
0 IDhl5>'ttT
 C

.tq T /"fl'I ... A

y ' .
transport syste~ is utilised in SYJlthesistn
with the help ofATP synthase kompJeJC VJ gi
uter complex consists of two major compon · 1
side A p.
., . ents
anct~F0 (Figure 14.5). The F •head iec . ;
1

1 ~-.t-7 2H+~~----t-..,_ - es ~ ornAJ

~t S b ~ 1T'I ancf'"@6rganic phosphate. F · is an int ·
f ' memb~ane roleili cd'm~1~x~
. Inner - • - w•--~--...... . ;.:
channel through which protons cro
mitochondrial -
membrane
ADP ' Pi \e.9o ---... The passage of protons
membrane.
·channel is coupled to the cataiyttc Site of the F
Matrix,
componen ~ ~t:"=l::it!:::!:,!' r ·
-/ S
uTe l4.I
D~aniauc presentation of
synthesis in i:nitochondrta
A~ ATPpz:_odu
in
tnu.~s ~~~~~E,!!-@:cl~nt.

~ -..,ol!uu¾L~ ~ d,4.5 '.I'IIE RESP1RATOav BALANcE s .HEET

m11<>cho"Or,:,- . . . .
•~;
~5z""""
esniq':c

d~ It is J)OSSlWe to make calc111ations of the net gaJn bfATP for veiy glucose
~- ' -~ $ =· _ _ molecule oxldised;butinrealitythis,oanl'ellJalnoniy theoreti exe
Jb:
-..-;.,...,
~ . . . . . . . . ,__ .,.
These calculations can be made only on certain qssumptions that:
.
i;£-J,S2}/!! ! , ..-" There ts a ~ qu;~J!, _orderly _pafu~ run-;;'. with•~
· substrate formtng the next and With glycolysis, TCA cycle and ETS
-.....--~--•-A
pathway •-•-.,.-,one_•after
folloWing ·-•--•--
another. · ---
~ ~ j ] ,.,.- Th'";, NAiiifsynthesi;;;d" t-;:;:·giy;:;,Iysts ts transferred Into the
! .J mllochondm and undergoes oxidative phosphoiylatlon.
t~ ,
.G'l~~
1n e
;tj;""Tt
~ -
None of '!l«.~
aiiyoTuer compound.
~~ y~ utlIJ'!';!!_ !2_
.
~ th"!:'
.
. - - ...

t · Only glucose is being respired - no other alterna~ve substrates are

'I< ,,-,,,...,..__~ -" eiit'eruig in the pathway atany~
the intermediary stag; s. ·,
.,..._----- -- . :r
assump~6iis are not really valid in a living s;steroth; allr.
pa~ways work sbnultaneously and do not take place one after ano hen e,
substrates enter the pathways and are Withdrawn-- m.1m . ware
,:. :·... it as and
necessary;
- ATP is .utllJsed as and .when needed ; .enzymatic rates e to
contr~lled by multiple means.•·. Yet, it is u~efu1 to do this extf'aIcti011
. exerc s
appreciate the beauty and effi~ ncy 'of E,ie Ii~ ~ .:'.~st . tp
al'icf'sl:o"rtng :.,n er~ . Hence.Tuer can e a net gain 'A · .
dlirfug a.e'robic respiration of one mo ecu e o ucose.
I
J
p.
..
ptitA.110N 1N Pl.ANTS 235

l t us compare ferpientatlon and aerobic respiration:

Now e
,/ fermentation accounts for only a partial breakdown of glucose
· whereas In aerobic respiration it is completely degraded to CO 2 and

·1 ~~~entatlo~ 1here Is a !'i!.!~~!

ortl•9 oiecules of All' for
I m olecule of glucose ae~acied to : 9 ~cid wliereasiffiln1
h
eac-=--- f & ~ ----- •
·moremolec~les o ATP are-generate.ct undei;.aey,obic co~s.

--
_rrf
~ H_is oxidised to NAP+ rather slo~ ly 1!1~~!_itatlon, ~ e r
~ ~t1~o~n~1s~ v~e~ry
~Q!
~ g~u~!?c!!;;s~h;;t~E=as
..
;;;
e]fi~=i.ero
=·:fbl
=:c~::::=
~ ~a~ti~on.
[>v]
l4,6 _~fftBOUC PATHWAY . ~~'='=~==----:-=1'1
•JUCOsets.
1
· ou e ubstrat forresplratlon. Allcarbohydratesaf~
ally first c~,.-f'ls-rt into ucose before the are used for res iration.
"'° e
7',c
to- A
-
:er substrates can also be respired, as has been mentioned~lier, but TJ1I"TINS'1"'1':)~~l /
tben they do not enter the res irato athwa at the s . ste . See Figure ~ 'f'loto.£
_ to see e point~ of entry of different substrates in the r~spiratory su c..QJ'C\yJ c.o-f:
6
14
n~thway. Fats -~ould need to be_brok_en down in_to glycerol and fatty _a cids OIL ~
fil'§ fatty acids were to be respired e would first be de raded to
1 <z-to~ -
and enter the wa . Glycerol ould enter the alliway - 0'I.. ~o O..~ d
conve e t. PG The pro ~ms would - b_ e ::fi
degr_aded by ,.~ ~to.~ , bJ.-'lf'. m,--1_.>,l,·" ''-""-?·
b.~ -~ _ . ...

roJ~~s and the individu amino acms ~ ifilJ!_deaµnnation)_repending .l.t-

0 1
P
ontheirstructurewo uld t th th
en er epa way a t thinth Kr b
· · e eJJ3' c,('- b ,~
--tJ--.-- c_ ~ 1
cycle or even as pyruvate _?i- ace~~S:o~ · : -
siiic"e respiration involvesbreak.down of substrates, the respiratory ·
· \ ..t>
,A<n,"'a cW..'. d -0'" t
process haslfr.aditionally been ':?I?E2-tz£~4. ~- cat~oJi~ PI:~ esJ and -~ e ~::=--:-~--------~-~-
respiratoiy iJiuiway as a catabollc pathway. But 1s this understanding
correct? We have discussed above, at which points in the respiratory .
pathway different subs~ates would enter if they were to be respired and ·
used_!o dertve energy. What is impo~_!.!2 res~~~ ~ ~!;hese ve!L
cmµpounds th~t would be withdra~ pathway for the
synthesis of the said substrates. Hence, fatty acids ~oitldlie:trt.Qken:..'dQWil.
to ~ etyl CoA before entering~~@.~!<ny _pa ~ay ~h~~_it is~used as a
sub~trate. But when the organism needs to synthes!se fatty acids,acelyr
C~ would be withdrawn from the
respiratory pathw~y...for it~Hence7""tlle
- - - - -- --
respll'atoty pamway comes iiito the'pfc'fiirebotn"durffigoreakd:owrrar:rd
8~ 1 s of fatfy acids. SfrnilarlY, a ufffig breaicaownana synthesis-of

protem t90, gspiratmy intermediat93 fann ,the ]ipk. Bre.akin_g down

processes -within the . living organism _is catabolism, and synthesis is
anabolism. Because the respiratory pathway is involved in both anabolism
ca ·---l would lience be better fo coi{si<krfu7re';p~iypa~ ay
as -~ pa . w'"ay'ratb'eflifaifas a cataoo1ic one:-- - . ,.,
 Fats Carbohydrates Ptotetns -~
.. Fatty acids and glycerol
+ Sjmple sugars
e.g. Glucose

+ •

-.-
Glucose 6-phosphate

t
- --

+ Fruct~se. 1,6 bisphosphate

t
Dihydroxy Acetone Phosphate Glycerajdehyde 3-phosphate
. . . . t -.
t
t
.,
Pyruvtc acid ~ - - - -
t
Acetyl CoA .

~o

.,...;,{' 14.8 Interrel,t1011shlp .among metabolic ·pathways showing resplraUon

,R._~ \lQ.l\.u · .~. ' medlated breakdown of ~ t organic DlOiecuJes to CO and H,O
2
I
o!<lU,(c 14. 7 .Rl!sPIRAToRv QUOTIENT :
---, kililc at..'cl . durlDI( I
. . Let us now look at another aspect of respiration. As yoq knoW. oflh•
~ it Q<>d aerobic resplratlon. o, Is consumed and co, Is released. ra!'a..'~ 1!1•
w> ~ §'
·: :"',Jt-,J;l"c, ~ .
Q,rJ ..
~lume orco, evolved ~ the vo!~• C\f.O,.~'!!!'~ ~ resp
calledthe Nl!J!ln.~t1!'!JIIRQLprres~ rittlo,

· ~~ /°""-" RQ~ vohuneorco,evohled .

· VolumeofO;consumed .._ 1

.. • ,___ __ _ - . - ~th type of resptra~ tY t

· The respiratory quo en epen s upon . .,. ~ - ;.....:..--,- -
. · substrate used during resptratto~ ~---c ___ ,, ompletelY · (
- · · . ,
. • When car6oliydra!es are uS<!d as ..substra e t and . are c 8ft

OXl~ T thO RQ'w!lJ.2~). ~ ~ ~!!L'®ii:WJ!Ui; _

°1!11!.~tl "!'d consm!\ed. respect1ye1y. as shown ln th• eq
' beloW:
J
i 1

.
 . t
t ., ii .
,
+~,<e
(
~ J<"uR
Vhas( l>1f
.J.
'l'J\ I)"'?\?
f~
C)S;F "'~
. :. 1-

. ~ ,,l<lflK\. • •
U'\l6'ro ~/ ·~-\' '
,i)len fats are used In res !ration, the RQ Is less than I. Calculations c, "r •J .
\ tty acid, tripalmitln. if used as a substrate ts s own: ,.~ ~ . L.j
fore. a - < . . . . .D i ~ 'f~-+h>-i~ •
+ 1450 2 102co 2+ 98H2O+ energy ,,,..--rt::r.~ ~ ---, OC(:).,-+ ,.e ~.(_

· Trtpalmitln · ~-.:~~::= 2
. l~RQ=
-· -
102C02 ~ 0.7
14502 .
. - .
,
~ .Z.....,
~>'
.. - - -, ' . crvc,__ i'J H<
, ~u \Jeil!J-.!
_Je./lJ..j u'tu
Le1 ,
1
W)Jen l!rote1!!5 are respiratoiy subsirates the r'tlo !°u,!d ~e abou!..q'~ ': "'<rn.».o-<½, ,

~§r-Ji~\
~ W)JatlslmP"rtant t o ~ ~ that In IMng organtsms respli:atoiy
~ tes are often more than one;' iwepl'Ql~ ~r',l'l'!l'iire iif:yelttsetf <M"A-<'\C
suhsfra~ . . . . _ , n . , . roe· lltl#1½ & f \'lc,uA ,•
~J ,. . :r
!"· . '.
.
.! 0 I l''(f ~,-a.~. N
.

SUMMARY
·--~ - \

Plants unlike arumals_have no special systems for ~reathing or gaseous exchange.

Stomata and lenticels allow gaseous exchange by diffusion. Almost all living cells·
in a plant have their surfaces exposed to air. . ·
. Toe breaking of C-C bonds of complex organic molecules by oxidation cells
leading to the release of a lot of energy is called cellular respiration. Glucose is the
favoured substrate fo'r respiration. Fat~ and proteins can_·also be broken down to
yield energy. Toe initial stage of cellular respiration takes place in the cytoplasm.
· Each glucose molecule ts broken through a series of enzyme catalysed reactions
·,. into two molecules of pyruvic acid. This·process ts called glycolysis. The fate of the
pyruvate depends on the availability of oxygen and the organism. Under anaerobic
condltlons either lactic add fermentation . or alcohol fermentation occurs.
,..Fennentation takes place unde tc conditions in many prokaryotes,
unicellular eukaryotes an ,vnJ£.I.Qtlng s · In eukaryotic organisms aerobic .
respiration occurs m=im$ al~~ffi~~~rri vie acid is transported into the
mitochondria whei:e it is converted.into acetyl CoA with the release of CO2 • Acety~ ·
CoA theri enters the trtcarboxylic acid pathway or Krebs' cycle operating in the .
matrix of the mitochondria. NADH + H+ and FADH; are generated in the Krebs'
• · cycle. The energy in these.molecules as well as t\lat in the NADH + H+ synthesised

durtng glycolysis are_used _to synthesi~e.ATP. This is accomplished through a

1