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Link Reaction:
Anaerobic respiration:
1) Glycolysis (Substrate-level phosphorylation; ATP formed!!)
i) Glucose Pyruvate
2) Fermentation (Decarboxylation may occur; NAD+ regenerated!!)
i) Pyruvate + NADH Lactic acid + NAD+
ii) Pyruvate acetaldehyde + CO2 ; acetaldehyde + NADH ethanol + NAD+
Explain why CO2 is produced when mitochondria are incubated with pyruvate but not when they
are incubated with glucose.
1. Pyruvate can enter mitochondrion but not glucose
2. Glucose needs to be converted into pyruvate via glycolysis which occurs only in the
cytoplasm
3. CO2 is
produced by decarboxylation of pyruvate in the link reaction/ of acetyl CoA in the
Krebs cycle in the mitochondrion.
2-nitrobenzoic acid is a chemical that binds to NAD+. Explain the effect of the addition of this
chemical on glycolysis.
1. NAD+ is unable to be reduced to NADH
2. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate c annot be oxidised to pyruvate.
3. Glycolysis stops/ slows down.
Role of ATP during aerobic respiration:
1. Hydrolysis of ATP yields large amount of energy used to drive endergonic processes in
cells, e.g. active transport of pyruvate from cytoplasm to mitochondrial matrix
uccinyl-CoA. CO2 is
5. A-ketoglutarate undergoes oxidative decarboxylation to form s lost
ADH.
in this process, while NAD+ accepts a H atom to form N
3. Electrons are transferred via a series of electron carriers down the electron transport
chain (ETC) found on the inner mitochondrial membrane, with e nergy released during
each electron transfer.
5. The energy released is used to a ctively pump H+ from the matrix into the
intermembranal space of the mitochondria, creating a proton gradient a cross the inner
membrane, and results in the formation of a proton motive force.
6. H+ then diffuses down the concentration gradient t hrough hydrophilic protein channels of
the stalked particle, and the energy released by the proton motive force is used by ATP
synthase to attach an inorganic phosphate to ADP, forming ATP.
7. Oxidation of 1 molecule of NADH yields 3 ATP while oxidation of 1
molecule of
FADH2 yields 2 ATP by oxidative phosphorylation.
8. Oxidative phosphorylation allows the regeneration of NAD+ and FAD for use in
glycolysis.
Explain how mercury ions may affect the survival of the fish when oxygen concentrations are
low.
1. When oxygen concentration is low, aerobic respiration cannot produce sufficient ATP.
2. In addition, the fish cannot carry out anaerobic respiration in the presence of mercury
ions as lactate dehydrogenase c annot catalyse the conversion of pyruvate to lactic acid
to regenerate NAD+ in the cytoplasm due to inhibition by mercury ions.
4. Thus, ATP-requiring cellular activities are inhibited, causing death of the fish.
In humans, certain tissues can undergo anaerobic respiration if conditions make it necessary.
Explain why large stores of glycogen enables these tissues to tolerate anaerobic respiration for
longer periods of time.
1. Anaerobic respiration occurs when theres no O2 and produces a low amount of ATP.
2. Large stores of glycogen can be converted to l arge amount of glucose.
3. Hence, providing a large source of glucose for anaerobic respiration to occur longer.
C
processes glycolysis
Requires O2 ? No Yes
ATP produced 2 38
Involvement of light energy Light energy is required for Light energy is not required
photolysis/ to energise electrons
Source of energy for ATP Energy for synthesis of ATP comes Energy for synthesis of ATP
synthesis from light comes from oxidation of
glucose
Electron acceptors NADP+ is the final electron Oxygen is the final electron
acceptor in the non-cyclic reaction acceptor
Photosynthesis:
c
xv c
1.
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Data Analysis:
In the absence of ADP or Pi, the proton pore of ATP synthase is blocked and a H+ builds up
to a point where it restricts further H+ translocation across the inner membrane. Since electron
transport is functionally linked to H+ translocation, this elevated H+ will also restrict O2
consumption.
Oligomycin inhibits ATP synthase by blocking its proton channel (Fo subunit), which is
necessary for oxidative phosphorylation of ADP to ATP. (Its effects is opposite of excess
ADP)
Why does DNP decreases O2 amount?
2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) is a relatively non-polar compound used in high doses as a dieting aid
but has been identified with severe side-effects, including a number of deaths.
DNP dissipates the proton gradient and hence, the proton motive force (PMF) needed to drive
ATP synthesis via ATP synthase
Normally, proton gradient maintained as intermembranal space has higher [H+] than matrix.
DNP- gains H+ in intermembrane space => lowers [H+] in intermembrane space
DNP is hydrophobic, pass through hydrophobic core of inner mitochondrial membrane => DNP
reaches matrix & loses H+ => increases [H+] in matrix
Depletion of the proton gradient makes the process of proton transport (across proton pumps)
more thermodynamically favourable which hence increases. T his increases the rate of electron
transport, since the energy released for proton pumping comes from electron transfers via a
series of electron carriers down the ETC. Oxygen is hence rapidly used up as the final electron
acceptor of the ETC.