Respiration

RESPIRATION

! Breathing
! A mechanism for providing ATP, NADH
! The release of free energy by oxidation-
reduction reactions (and storage of part of that
free energy)

Example
glucose + O2 ---> CO2 + H2O
!G = -673 Kcal/mole glucose

Through coupled reactions, some of this free

energy can be applied to the formation of ATP,
and used, for example, in the uptake of nutrients.

glucose + 6 O2 + 34 ADP + 34 Pi--->

C O2 + H2O + 34 ATP + 34 H2O
!G = -673 +248 = -425 Kcal/mole glucose
 Respiration Fermentation
(aerobic) (anaerobic)

Animals Fungi
Plants Some bacteria
Protists Animals and
Fungi plants (for
Some bacteria short periods
only)
 Overall reaction of respiration

Inputs Outputs

6 H2 O
glucose
C6H12O6 6 CO2

6 O2 36 ATP +
36 H2O
36 ADP +
36 Pi Heat
 Glycolysis: the initial metabolism of glucose

Heat

1
2 (ADP + Pi) 2 NAD+
2 2 NADH + H+
2 (ATP + H2O)

! 10 reactions, each with its own soluble enzyme; all

enzymes in endoplasm
! Converts 1 glucose (C6H12O6) to 2 pyruvic acids
(C3H4O3)
! Partial oxidation of glucose (- 4e-); reduction of
+ +
NAD to NADH + H
! Forms 2 ATP (net: uses 2, produces 4)
! Produces waste heat
 Glycolysis: the initial metabolism of glucose

Uses ATP
Makes ATP
 Pyruvic acid oxidation and Citric Acid Cycle

2
Heat

6 H2 O 6 CO2

2(GDP + Pi)

2(GTP + H2O)

! 9 reactions, each with its own enzyme, 8

arranged in a cycle; all but one soluble; all in
the matrix of the mitochondrion.
! Completely oxidizes pyruvic acid to CO2 (-
20e-); 16 to NADH + H+, 4 to FADH2
8NAD+ 2FAD 2FADH2 8NADH ! Adds 6 H2O
+ 8H+ ! Forms 2 GTP (like ATP but with a different
base)
! Produces waste heat
Pyruvic acid oxidation
and the Citric Acid Cycle

Makes NADH

Makes NADH

Makes FADH2

Makes GTP(ATP)
Which of the labels
under this picture
is wrong?
(a) 10 NADH
(b) 2 FADH2
(c) 4 ATP
(d) 3 CO2
Electron transport chain: synthesis of ATP

10NADH 2FADH2 2FAD 10NAD+

Heat
ELECTRON TRANSPORT
6 O2 CHAIN 12 H2O

32(ADP + Pi) 32(ATP + H2O)

! Electron carriers in the membrane of the cristae

! All proteins (enzymes) with cofactors, FAD and
heme, which carry electrons (i.e., can be alternately
reduced and oxidized)
! Oxidize NADH and FADH2 (-2 e- per each
+
nucleotide, -24 total) to NAD , FAD
! Reduce O2 to H2O (6 O2 = 12 O = 24 e-)
! Synthesize 32 ATP from ADP + Pi (3*8
mitochondrial NADH+ 2*2 endoplasmic NADH +
2*2 FADH2)
! Produce waste heat
Electron transport chain: electrons move from
carrier to carrier in a specific order
Electron transport chain: H+ moves from inside to
outside of membrane
ATP synthetase: H+ moves back to the inside
through an enzyme that forms ATP + H2O from
ADP + Pi.
Calculating the ATP yield of respiration

Glycolysis +2 NADH
+2 ATP

Pyruvate oxidation +2 NADH

Citric acid cycle +2 ATP (GTP)

+6 NADH
+2 FADH2

Electron transport chain -2 NADH

+4 ATP
-8 NADH
+24 ATP
-2 FADH2
+4 ATP
+36 ATP
What happens when there is no oxygen? No electron transport
chain to oxidize NADH? No Citric Acid Cycle?

Muscle cells

Reduction of
pyruvate produces
lactic acid
Yeast and plant cells

Reduction of
pyruvate produces
ethanol

Variations:
! Most plants make EtOH, but are
hurt by large amounts; some
plants make lactic or malic acid
and tolerate these better.
! Most animals make lactic acid,
but the acid hurts; goldfish make
EtOH and excrete it.
Summary: how free energy flows through
the cell

! Cells get free energy in the form of glucose (or

other organic molecules)
! Oxidation of glucose releases free energy; much
is saved as reduced NADH and FADH2 (and a
little ATP) are formed in coupled reactions; the
rest lost as heat
! Oxidation of NADH and FADH2 releases free
+
energy; much saved as electrochemical (H )
gradient; the rest lost as heat
+
! Reversal of electrochemical gradient (H
transport) releases free energy; much saved as
ATP; the rest lost as heat
! Hydrolysis of ATP releases free energy; some
saved (in energy of position, new chemical
gradients from transport of compounds across
membranes, synthesis of polymers, etc.); the rest
lost as heat.