Anaerobic Respiration

Question 1

Describe differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Answer 1

• aerobic= requires oxygen, produces large quantities of ATP (38)
• anaerobic = occurs in absence of oxygen, produces less ATP (2)

Question 2

What happens to respiration in low levels of oxygen?

Answer 2

Oxygen cannot be final electron acceptor so NAD + FAD aren’t reduced and regenerate so Krebs cycle and link reaction stop

Question 3

Describe process of lactate fermentation

Answer 3

• occurs after glycolysis
• pyruvate acts as hydrogen acceptor taking H from NAD+ catalysed by enzyme lactase dehydrogenase
• pyruvate converted into lactate/lactic acid and NAD is regenerated
• can be used to continue glycolysis so small quantity of ATP is produced

Question 4

How and why is lactic acid broken down?

Answer 4

Acidity means lactate denatures enzymes + proteins
~ broken down by liver + converted back to glucose w oxygen
~ the volume of oxygen needed is called oxygen debt
~ OR converted back to pyruvate + recycled in the Krebs cycle

Question 5

Why cant lactate fermentation occur for long periods?

Answer 5

Only a small quantity of ATP is produced, cannot sustain vital processes, and buildup of lactate causes pH to drop, denaturing enzymes

Question 6

How is respiratory quotient calculated?

Answer 6

CO2 produced / O2 produced