Lesson Cellular Respiration

3
What I Need to Know

Cellular Respiration
In cellular respiration, glucose is converted to pyruvic acid which can enter either
through aerobic respiration or anaerobic respiration.
In aerobic respiration, pyruvic acid molecules enter the mitochondria and through a
series of chemical reactions known as the citric acid cycle (Kreb’s cycle) via electron
transport chain. In the Kreb’s cycle, the pyruvic acid is converted to carbon dioxide. The
electron transport chain accepts the electron from the breakdown products of the Kreb’s
cycle and glycolysis via the NADH and FADH2. At the end of the chain, the electrons are
combined with hydrogen ions and molecular oxygen to form water. This process can
produce ATP. During this process, the glucose molecule is broken down and the carbon
atoms released from glucose are combined with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide.
In anaerobic respiration, pyruvic acid is converted to lactic acid. There is a production
of two ATP molecules for each glucose molecule.

Fig. 3.a. Courtesy: Enger, Eldon D. et. Al., (2012). Concepts in Biology 14th Edition. USA: McGraw-Hill
(Retrieved August 13, 2015)
 What I Know

Chemical reactions for cellular respiration:

 Which groups in the cellular respiration equation go in?

 Which groups are released?

C6H12O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + energy

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Definition of Terms

1. Aerobic respiration
2. Anaerobic respiration
3. Pyruvic acid
4. Fermentation
5. Glycolysis
6. Krebs cycle
7. Electron transport chain

What’s In

In Cellular respiration:

• Oxygen is reduced to water

• Has electron transport chain located within the cristae of the mitochondria, where
ATP is produced by chemiosmosis
• Has enzyme-catalyzed reactions within the semi-fluid interior
• A carbohydrate is oxidized to carbon dioxide

Glycolysis-means “sugar-splitting” that occurs in the cytosol of the cell. It does not
require oxygen to breakdown glucose into pyruvate.

Krebs cycle-completes the metabolic breakdown of glucose to carbon dioxide and

produces 2 ATP.
Oxidative phosphorylation-a process occurring in mitochondria and accounts for
majority of the ATP production.

Electron Transport Chain-contains the chain members (carrier and protein complexes,
ATP synthase complex and ATP channel protein. These membrane proteins shuttle
electrons during the redox reactions. The electrons will be used to produce ATP by
chemiosmosis.

NADH and FADH2-these are electron acceptor molecules that contain high-energy
electrons. They transport the electrons to ETC to produce many more ATPs by
oxidative phosphorylation.

ATP synthase-is an enzyme that is responsible for the great production of ATPs. This
happens when it uses the energy coming from H+ ions to bind ADP and phosphate
group together to produce ATP.

Fig. 3.b. The diagram below shows the total energy produced from the complete breakdown of glucose by
aerobic respiration.
Summary of Cellular Respiration

SOME SOME END

STAGE SUMMARY STARTING PRODUCTS
MATERIALS
Series of reactions in which Pyruvate,
glucose is degraded to ATP, NADH
Glucose,
1. Glycolysis (in pyruvate; net profit of 2
ATP, NAD+,
cytosol) ATPs; hydrogen atoms are
Pi
transferred to carriers; can
proceed anaerobically
Pyruvate is degraded and Acetyl CoA,
combined with coenzyme A CO2, NADH
2. Formation of Pyruvate,
to form acetyl CoA;
acetyl CoA (in coenzyme A,
hydrogen atoms are
mitochondria) NAD+
transferred to carriers; CO2
is released
Series of reactions in which CO2, NADH,
the acetyl portion of acetyl FADH2, ATP
3. Citric acid Acetyl CoA,
CoA is degraded to CO2;
cycle (in H2O, NAD+,
hydrogen atoms are
mitochondria) FAD, ADP, Pi
transferred to carriers; ATP
is synthesized
Chain of several electron ATP, H2O,
transport molecules; NAD+, FAD
electrons are passed along
4. Electron chain; released energy is
transport and used to form a proton NADH, FADH2,
chemiosmosis (in gradient; ATP is O2, ADP, Pi
mitochondria) synthesized as protons
diffuse down the gradient;
oxygen is final electron
acceptor
Differences and Similarities of Aerobic, Anaerobic and Fermenting Organisms

Differences Similarity
Aerobic,
Anaerobic
Fermenting
Aerobic Organisms Anaerobic Organisms and
Organisms
Fermenting
Organisms
ATP is
Do not use produced
Use oxygen Do not use oxygen
oxygen

Lactate (lactate CO2 is the

fermentation) or waste product
H2O and potassium nitrite ethyl alcohol
H2O is the by-product
are the by-products (alcoholic
fermentation) is
the by-product)
Final acceptors Electrons are
of electrons are transferred
pyruvate reduced from glucose to
Electron acceptor is O2 With electron transport
to lactate, and NADH
and is reduced to water chain
acetaldehyde
reduced to ethyl
alcohol

With electron transport Electron acceptor is No electron

chain nitrate or sulfate transport chain

Occur in
Occur in prokaryotes
Occur in prokaryotes prokaryotes
and eukaryotes
and eukaryotes
 Simple and
faster
Requires no special
alternative to
organelles
cellular
respiration

Requires no
special
organelles

Glycolysis and
waste product
formation are
two sets of
reactions that
occur
 What’s New

Procedure: Refine your knowledge on cellular respiration by doing the sample graphic
organizer below. Fill-out the table and distinguish how the two types of respiration are
alike and different. Then write your conclusion based on the similarities and differences
you have listed.
 What Is It

Directions: Accomplish the table below by comparing aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Factors Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration

Main function
Site of Reaction
Production of ATP
Sustainability
Production of lactic acid
Oxygen requirement
Recycling of NADH
Participating cells

Directions: Compare aerobic and anaerobic respiration by accomplishing the Venn

diagram below.

Venn Diagram of Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration

 What’s More

Directions: Compare fermentation with anaerobic and aerobic respiration by analyzing

the diagram below.

1. What are the three kinds of enzyme-controlled reactions so that the chemical-bond
energy from a certain nutrient is released to the cell in the form of ATP?
2. What are the hydrogen electron acceptors for aerobic and anaerobic respiration as well
as in fermentation?
3. These are the by-products of aerobic respiration that are considered low-energy
molecules.
4. What are the outputs produced by anaerobic respiration? What about in fermentation?
5. What are two general metabolic mechanisms by which certain cells can oxidize organic
fuel and generate ATP without the use of oxygen?

Directions: Fill-in the table below for the major events and features of cellular respiration.
The option table is given for you to answer the needed materials and end products of
cellular respiration.
Major Events and Features of Cellular Respiration

STAGE STARTING MATERIALS END PRODUCTS

1. Glycolysis (in
cytosol)

2. Preparatory
reaction

3. Citric acid cycle

4. Electron
transport and
chemiosmosis

Available Choices
a. Pyruvate, ATP, b. NADH, FADH2, c. Glucose, ATP, d. Pyruvate,
NADH O2, ADP Pi NAD+, ADP Pi Coenzyme A,
NAD+
e. Acetyl CoA, f. Acetyl CoA, g. CO2, NADH, h. ATP, H2O,
H2O, NAD+, FAD, CO2, NADH FADH2, ATP NAD+, FAD
ADP Pi
 What I Have Learned

• A. Learning Process Activity:

Directions: This is a modified TRUE or FALSE activity. Write the word TRUE if the
underlined word/phrase being referred to is correct. If it is FALSE, change the
word/phrase to make the whole statement correct based on the concept of cellular
respiration. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

_____1. Fermentation and anaerobic respiration enable the cells to produce ATP
without the use of oxygen.

_____2. The term cellular respiration includes both aerobic and anaerobic processes.
_____3. Fermentation is a complete degradation of sugars or other fuel that occurs
without the use of oxygen.
_____4. An electron transport system consists of a number of molecules, majority are
proteins, located in the matrix of the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells and the plasma
membrane of aerobic prokaryotes.

_____5. Pyruvate oxidation and the citric acid cycle, oxidative phosphorylation: electron
transport chain and chemiosmosis are the metabolic stages reserved for cellular
respiration.

_____6. The breakdown of glucose to carbon dioxide is completed in the electron

transport chain.

_____7. ATP synthase is the enzyme that makes the bulk of the ATP from ADP and Pi
by chemiosmosis.

_____8. ATP synthase uses the energy of an existing hydrogen ion gradient to power
ATP synthesis.

_____9. Phosphorylation of ADP to form ATP stores at least 14.6 kcal per molecule of
ATP.

_____10. Citric acid cycle generates 2 ATP whether oxygen is present or not, whether
the conditions are aerobic or anaerobic.
• B. Learning Process Activity:

Directions: Arrange the following to get the right energy flow sequence in aerobic
respiration.

NADH Electron Transport Chain Glucose ATP

• C. Learning Process Activity:

Directions: Identify the following statements as photosynthesis or cellular respiration.

____________1. Energy-releasing pathways

____________2. Energy-acquiring pathways

What I Can Do

Performance Task:

Homemade Virgin Coconut Oil and Fermentation/Modified Natural Vinegar

Fermentation Method. A video link is provided:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGK8z3DXw7E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUu7SF25tXM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh0wWMdNkv4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-wE7pbXaXY
This can be done at home with precautionary measures. Document your output
and submit it via YouTube or Facebook. Just click the video link on how to make the
homemade virgin coconut oil and natural vinegar fermentation method. Choose only
one for your performance task.
Key Concepts:

Fermentation refers to the addition of yeast or a specific microorganisms or

enzyme to a raw material to produce a desired product. But for the so-called natural
fermentation method, we will produce VCO that does not require any addition of
microorganisms or substance. When the coconut milk mixture is allowed to stand for at
least 10 hours, the VCO will naturally separate from water and protein. Several theories
say that the separation of these substances is due to the presence of airborne acetic
acid bacteria (Acetobacter aceti). A. aceti breaks the protein bonds in the coconut milk
causing the mixture to separate distinctively.
Another theory says that the enzyme present in the coconut makes the
separation of substances to occur. The so-called ‘fermentation method’ happens when
after 16 to 24 hours of settling, the water smells and tastes sour. The so-called ‘natural’
explains that there is no addition of any other substance or microorganism in fermenting
the virgin coconut oil. Also the ‘virgin’ in the virgin coconut oil implies that there is no
substance added to make the oil.
On the other hand, vinegar is a sour-tasting condiment and preservative. It can
be prepared by two successive microbial processes. The first phase is done through
alcoholic fermentation by a eukaryotic organism called yeast. The second phase is by
oxidation of alcohol by a prokaryotic organism called Acetobacter aceti. This bacterium
is responsible for converting the alcohol in wine to acetic acid or vinegar. Since coconut
is abundant in our country, use this example to show the principle of fermentation
process involving microorganisms and the series of reactions that take place as coconut
water is converted into vinegar.