Respiratory Substrates

Energy density: the energy value per unit mass.

- Glucose is the only respiratory substrate for neurones, red blood cells, and lymphocytes.
- Other cells respire a mixture of substrates.
Fatty acids are broken down two carbon atoms at a time to form acetyl groups which bind to
CoA and enter the Krebs cycle.

Amino acid carbon skeletons are converted into acetyl CoA and pyruvate.

- Energy values:
Most energy liberated in aerobic respiration comes from the oxidation of hydrogen to water
when reduced NAD and FAD are passed through the ETC. Thus, it follows that the more
hydrogens a substrate can supply per molecule, the higher its energy value.

Lipids have more C-H bonds than carbohydrates so they have a higher energy density.
Energy densities:
- Carbohydrates: 15.8 kJ/mol
- Lipids: 39.4 kJ/mol
- Proteins: 17.0 kJ/mol

- Respiratory quotient: ratio between volume of carbon dioxide given off per unit time and the
volume of oxygen taken in per unit time.

- RQs:
Carbohydrates: 1.0
Lipids: 0.7
Proteins: 0.9
Alcoholic fermentation: ridiculously high
Lactic fermentation: nothing because no CO2 is made.