Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

CHAPTER 14. RESPIRATION IN PLANTS

NOTES
➢ Oxidation of food materials (breaking of C-C bonds of complex molecules) within the cell to release energy
for ATP synthesis is called cellular respiration.
➢ This energy is used for absorption, transport, movement, reproduction, breathing etc.
➢ Ultimate source of food that is respired is photosynthesis.
➢ The compounds that are oxidized during respiration are called respiratory substrates. E.g. Carbohydrates
(most common), proteins, fats and organic acids.
➢ The energy released is not used directly but is used to synthesize ATP. When energy is needed, ATP is broken
down. Hence, ATP acts as energy currency of the cell.
BREATHING IN PLANTS
➢ For respiration, plants get O2 and give out CO2.
➢ In plants, gas exchange occurs via stomata & lenticels.
➢ Plants need no specialized respiratory organs because
• Each plant part takes care of its own gas-exchange needs. So gas transport is very limited.
• Very low gas exchange as compared to that of animals.
• Leaves are adapted for maximum gas exchange during photosynthesis. During this, O2 is released within
the cell.
• Most living cells have contact with air. They are located close to plant surface. In stems, living cells are
organized in thin layers beneath the bark. They also have lenticels. In leaves, stems & roots, parenchyma
cells are loosely packed that provides interconnected air spaces.
➢ Complete combustion of glucose yields energy most of which is given out as heat.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy
➢ This energy is utilized to synthesize other molecules.
➢ During the glucose catabolism, not all the liberated energy goes out as heat. Glucose is oxidised in several
small steps. It enables some steps to couple released energy to ATP synthesis.
➢ During respiration, oxygen is utilized, and CO2, water & energy are released.
➢ Certain organisms are adapted to anaerobic conditions. Some are facultative anaerobes. Others are obligate.
GLYCOLYSIS (EMP PATHWAY)
➢ It is the partial oxidation (breakdown) of glucose to 2 molecules of pyruvic acid (C3H4O3) in the absence of
O2.It occurs in cytoplasm of all living organisms.
➢ Its scheme was given by Gustav Embden, Otto Meyerhof & J. Parnas. So it is also known as EMP
pathway.
➢ In anaerobes, it is the only process in respiration.
➢ In plants, glucose is derived from sucrose (end product of photosynthesis) or from
storage carbohydrates. Sucrose is converted to glucose & fructose by an enzyme, invertase. These 2
monosaccharides readily enter glycolytic pathway.
➢ Glucose & fructose are phosphorylated to form glucose-6-phosphate by the enzyme hexokinase. It is then
isomerised to produce fructose-6-phosphate. Subsequent steps of metabolism of glucose and fructose are
same.
➢ Steps of glycolysis:
It includes 10 steps under the control of different enzymes.
ATP is utilized at 2 steps:
• In the conversion of glucose into glucose 6-phosphate.
• In the conversion of fructose 6-phosphate to fructose 1, 6-diphosphate.
✓ Fructose 1, 6-diphosphate is split into dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) & 3-
phosphoglyceraldehyde (PGAL).
✓ PGAL is oxidised and with inorganic phosphate get converted to 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate (BPGA). During
this, 2 redox-equivalents (2 H-atoms) are removed from PGAL and transferred to NAD+ forming NADH +
H+.
✓ BPGA becomes 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) yielding energy. This energy is trapped by the formation of
ATP.
✓ ATP is also formed when PEP converts to pyruvic acid.
✓ In glycolysis, 4 ATP molecules are directly synthesised from one glucose molecule.

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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

✓ Pyruvic acid (pyruvate) is the key product of glycolysis. Its metabolic fate depends on the cellular need.
✓ In different cells, pyruvic acid is handled in 3 ways:
• Lactic acid fermentation.
• Alcoholic fermentation.
• Aerobic respiration (Krebs’ cycle).
FERMENTATION (ANAEROBIC RESPIRATION)
➢ It is the incomplete oxidation of glucose under anaerobic condition.It occurs in
many prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes.
➢ It is 2 types:
• Alcoholic fermentation: Here, the pyruvic acid formed from glucose is converted to CO2 and ethanol. The
enzymes, pyruvic acid decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase catalyse these reactions. E.g. Yeast. Yeasts
poison themselves to death when the concentration of alcohol reaches about 13%.
• Lactic acid fermentation: Here, pyruvic acid is converted to lactic acid. E.g. Some bacteria.
➢ The reducing agent (NADH+H+) is reoxidised to NAD+ in both the processes.
➢ In animals, when oxygen is inadequate during exercise, pyruvic acid in muscle cells is reduced to lactic acid
by lactate dehydrogenase.
➢ Net ATP production from fermentation of one glucose molecule = 2. (4 ATP from glycolysis – 2 ATP
utilized).
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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

➢ The steps involved in fermentation are shown below:

Drawbacks of fermentation
• Energy production is limited. Less than 7% of the energy in glucose is released and not all of it is trapped as
high energy bonds of ATP.
• Hazardous products (acid or alcohol) are formed.
AEROBIC RESPIRATION
➢ It is a complete oxidation of organic substances in the presence of oxygen releasing CO2, water & energy. It
occurs in mitochondria.
➢ For this, the pyruvate (final product of glycolysis) is transported from the cytoplasm into the mitochondria.
➢ The crucial events in aerobic respiration are:
• Complete oxidation of pyruvate by stepwise removal of all the hydrogen atoms, leaving 3 CO2 molecules. It
takes place in the matrix of mitochondria.
• Passing on of electrons removed as part of H-atoms to molecular O2 with simultaneous synthesis of ATP. It
occurs on the inner membrane of mitochondria.
➢ Pyruvate (pyruvic acid) enters mitochondrial matrix and undergoes oxidative decarboxylation in
presence pyruvic dehydrogenase. It needs coenzymes, NAD+ & Coenzyme A.
➢ During this process, 2 NADH molecules are produced from 2 pyruvic acid molecules.

➢ Acetyl CoA then enters tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.

Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle
(Krebs’ cycle or Citric acid cycle)
➢ TCA cycle was first elucidated by Hans Krebs.
➢ Steps:
1. Condensation of acetyl group with oxaloacetic acid (OAA) & water to form citric acid in presence
of citrate synthase enzyme. A CoA molecule is released.
2. Citrate is isomerised to isocitrate.
3. Decarboxylation of isocitrate to a-ketoglutaric acid.
4. Decarboxylation of a-ketoglutaric acid to succinyl-CoA.
5. Succinyl-CoA is converted to succinic acid and a GTP molecule is synthesised (substrate level
phosphorylation). In a coupled reaction, GTP is converted to GDP with simultaneous synthesis of ATP from
ADP.
6. Oxidation of succinate to Fumarate and then to Malate.
7. Oxidation of malate to OAA.

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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

➢ At 3 points of TCA cycle, NAD+ is reduced to NADH + H+. At one point, FAD+ is reduced to FADH2.
➢ Continued oxidation of acetyl CoA via TCA cycle requires continued replenishment of OAA. It also requires
regeneration of NAD+ & FAD+ from NADH & FADH2.
➢ Summary equation of Krebs’ cycle:

➢ Thus, a glucose is broken down to give 6 CO2, 8 NADH+H+, 2 FADH2 and 2 ATP.
Electron Transport System (ETS) & Oxidative Phosphorylation
➢ Electron transport system (ETS) is the metabolic pathway present in the inner mitochondrial
membrane through which electron passes from one carrier to another.
➢ This is to release and utilize energy stored in NADH+H+ and FADH2 (formed during TCA cycle) by
oxidation.
➢ The electrons are passed on to O2 to form H2O.
➢ Electrons from NADH are oxidised by an NADH dehydrogenase (complex I).
➢ Electrons are then transferred to ubiquinone (UQ) located within the inner membrane. Ubiquinone also
receives reducing equivalents via FADH2 (complex II) that is generated during oxidation of succinate in citric
acid cycle.
➢ The reduced ubiquinone (ubiquinol or UQH2) is then oxidised with the transfer of electrons to cytochrome
c via cytochrome bc1 complex (complex III). Cytochrome c is a small protein attached to the outer surface
of the inner membrane. It acts as a mobile carrier of electrons between complex III and IV.
➢ Complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) contains cytochromes a & a3, and 2 copper centres.
➢ When the electrons pass from one carrier to another via complex I to IV, they are coupled to ATP
synthase (complex V) for the ATP production.

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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

➢ Number of ATP molecules produced depends on nature of electron donor.

Oxidation of 1 NADH → 3 ATP
Oxidation of 1 FADH2 → 2 ATP
➢ In aerobic respiration, the role of oxygen is limited to the terminal stage. Yet, oxygen is vital since it drives
the whole process by removing hydrogen from the system. Oxygen acts as the final hydrogen acceptor.
➢ In respiration, energy of oxidation-reduction is utilised for the phosphorylation. So this process is
called oxidative phosphorylation. It is not as photophosphorylation (Here, light energy is utilised to produce
proton gradient for phosphorylation).
➢ The energy released during the ETS is utilized to synthesize ATP by ATP synthase (complex V).
➢ ATP synthase has two major components: F1 & F0.
Shayar Singh, PGT – Biology. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khargone
Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

• F1 headpiece (peripheral membrane protein complex): Site for ATP synthesis from ADP & inorganic
phosphate.
• F0 (integral membrane protein complex): It forms a channel through which protons cross the inner
membrane. The passage of protons is coupled to the catalytic site of the F1 component for ATP production.

Diagrammatic presentation of ATP synthesis in mitochondria

➢ For each ATP produced, 2H+ passes through F0 from the inter-membrane space to the matrix down the
electrochemical proton gradient.
THE RESPIRATORY BALANCE SHEET
➢ Net gain of ATP from each glucose molecule is calculated based on the following assumptions: All steps in
Glycolysis, TCA cycle & ETS occur sequentially and orderly.
• The NADH synthesised in glycolysis is transferred into mitochondria and undergoes oxidative
phosphorylation.
• Intermediates in the pathway are not used to synthesise other compounds.
• Only glucose is being respired. Other alternative substrates are not entered in the pathway at any stages.
• Such assumptions are not valid because,
• All pathways work simultaneously and do not take place one after another.
• Substrates enter the pathways and are withdrawn from it as and when necessary.
• ATP is utilized as and when needed.
• Enzymatic rates are controlled by multiple means.
➢ Such calculations are useful to appreciate the efficiency of the living system in extraction and storing energy.
Net gain of ATP molecules from one glucose molecule
2 ATP directly 2 ATP
Glycolysis 2 molecules of
6 ATP
NADH
Oxidative decarboxylation 2 NADH 6 ATP
6 NADH 18 ATP
2 FADH 4 ATP
TCA cycle
2 GTP 2 ATP
Total 38 ATP
➢ 2 ATP molecules are spent for transporting 2 NADH molecules formed during glycolysis to the mitochondria.
Hence the net gain = 36 ATP molecules.
Comparison b/w fermentation & aerobic respiration
Fermentation Aerobic respiration
Complete breakdown of
Partial breakdown of glucose.
glucose to CO2 & H2O.
Net gain of only 2 ATP. Net gain of 36 ATP.
NADH is oxidised to
NADH is oxidised to NAD+ rather slowly.
NAD+ very vigorously.
AMPHIBOLIC PATHWAY
➢ Glucose is the favoured substrate for respiration. So, all carbohydrates are first converted to glucose for
respiration.
➢ Other substrates are also respired.

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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

➢ Fats breakdown into glycerol & fatty acids. Fatty acids are degraded to acetyl CoA and enter the
pathway. Glycerol is converted to PGAL and enters the pathway.
➢ Proteins are degraded by proteases into amino acids. Each amino acid (after deamination) enters the pathway
at some stage in the Krebs’ cycle or as pyruvate or acetyl CoA.
➢ The respiratory pathway is generally considered as a catabolic pathway. But it involves
both anabolism (synthesis) and catabolism (breakdown). So it is better called as an amphibolic pathway.
➢ E.g. Fatty acids breakdown to acetyl CoA before entering the respiratory pathway. But when the organism
needs to synthesise fatty acids, acetyl CoA withdraw from the respiratory pathway.
➢ Similarly, during breakdown and synthesis of protein, respiratory intermediates are involved.
RESPIRATORY QUOTIENT (RQ) OR RESPIRATORY RATIO
➢ It is the ratio of the volume of CO2 evolved to the volume of O2 consumed in respiration.

➢ RQ depends upon the type of respiratory substrate.

➢ RQ for carbohydrates= 1, because equal amounts of CO2 and O2 are evolved and consumed, respectively.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6 H2O + energy

➢ RQ for fats = < 1. Calculations for a fatty acid, (e.g. tripalmitin) are shown:
2 (C51H98O6) + 145O2 → 102 CO2 + 98 H2O + energy

➢ RQ for proteins = 0.9.

➢ In living organisms, respiratory substances are often more than one. Pure proteins or fats are never used as
respiratory substrates.
NCERT SOLUTIONS
Question 1: Differentiate between
(a) Respiration and Combustion (b) Glycolysis and Krebs’ cycle (c) Aerobic respiration and Fermentation
ANSWER: (a) Respiration and combustion
Respiration Combustion
1. It is a biochemical process. 1. It is a physiochemical process.
2. It occurs in the living cells. 2. It does not occur in the living cells.
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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

3. ATP is generated 3. ATP is not generated

4. Enzymes are required 4. Enzymes are not required
5. It is a biologically-controlled process. 5. It is an uncontrolled process.
(b) Glycolysis and Krebs cycle
Glycolysis Krebs cycle
1. It is a linear pathway. 1. It is a cyclic pathway.
2. It occurs in the cell cytoplasm. 2. It occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.
It occurs in both aerobic and anaerobic
3. 3. It occurs in aerobic respiration.
respiration.
It generates 2 NADH2 and 2 ATP It produces 6 NADH2, 2FADH2, and 2 ATP
4. molecules on the breakdown of one 4. molecules on the breakdown of two acetyl-
glucose molecule. CoA molecules.
(c) Aerobic respiration and fermentation
Aerobic respiration Fermentation
1. Oxygen is used for deriving energy 1. Occurs in the absence of oxygen
2. Occurs in the cytoplasm and mitochondria 2. Occurs in the cytoplasm
3. End products are carbon dioxide and water 3. End products are ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide
Complete oxidation of the respiratory substrate Incomplete oxidation of the respiratory substrate
4. 4.
takes place takes place
5. About 36 ATP molecules are produced 5. Only 2 ATP molecules are produced
Question 2: What are respiratory substrates? Name the most common respiratory substrate.
ANSWER: The compounds oxidised during the process of respiration are called respiratory substrates.
Carbohydrates, especially glucose, act as respiratory substrates. Fats, proteins, and organic acids also act as respiratory
substrates.
Question 3: Give the schematic representation of glycolysis?
ANSWER:

Question 4: What are the main steps in aerobic respiration? Where does it take place?
ANSWER: The major steps in aerobic respiration and the sites where they occur are listed in the given table.
Step Site of occurrence
1. Glycolysis 1. Cytoplasm
2. Krebs cycle 2. Matrix of mitochondria
3. Electron transport system 3. Inner mitochondrial membrane
4. Oxidative phosphorylation 4. F0-F1 particles in the inner mitochondrial membrane
Question 5: Give the schematic representation of an overall view of Krebs cycle.
ANSWER:

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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

Question 6: Explain ETS.

ANSWER: ETS or electron transport system is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It helps in releasing and
utilizing the energy stored in NADH+H+ and FADH2. NADH + H+, which is formed during glycolysis and citric acid cycle,
gets oxidized by NADH dehydrogenase (complex I). The electrons so generated get transferred to ubiquinone through
FMN. In a similar manner, FADH2 (complex II) generated during citric acid cycle gets transferred to ubiquinone. The
electrons from ubiquinone are received by cytochrome bc1 (complex III) and further get transferred to cytochrome c. The
cytochrome c acts as a mobile carrier between complex III and cytochrome c oxidase complex, containing cytochrome a
and a3, along with copper centres (complex IV).
During the transfer of electrons from each complex, the process is accompanied by the production of ATP from ADP and
inorganic phosphate by the action ATP synthase (complex V). The amount of ATP produced depends on the molecule,
which has been oxidized. 2 ATP molecules are produced by the oxidation of one molecule of NADH. One molecule of
FADH2, on oxidation, gives 3 ATP molecules.

Question 7: Distinguish between the following:

(a) Aerobic respiration and Anaerobic respiration
(b) Glycolysis and Fermentation
(c) Glycolysis and Citric acid Cycle
ANSWER: (a) Aerobic respiration and Anaerobic respiration
Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
1. It uses oxygen for deriving energy. 1. It occurs in the absence of oxygen.
2. It occurs in cytoplasm and mitochondria. 2. It occurs in cytoplasm.
The end products of aerobic respiration are carbon The end products of fermentation are ethyl alcohol
3. 3.
dioxide and water. and carbon-dioxide.
Complete oxidation of respiratory substrate takes Incomplete oxidation of respiratory substrate takes
4. 4.
place. place.
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Class XI Subject: Biology Chapter 14: Respiration in Plants

5. 36-38 ATP molecules are produced. 5. Only 2 ATP molecules are produced.
(b) Glycolysis and Fermentation
Glycolysis Fermentation
1. Glycolysis occurs during aerobic and anaerobic 1. Fermentation is a type of anaerobic respiration.
respiration.
2. Pyruvic acid is produced as its end product. 2. Ethanol or lactic acid is produced as its end
product.
(c) Glycolysis and citric acid cycle
Glycolysis Citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle)
1. It is a linear pathway. 1. It is a cyclic pathway.
2. It occurs in the cell cytoplasm. 2. It occurs in the mitochondrial matrix.
It occurs in both aerobic and anaerobic
3. 3. It occurs in aerobic respiration.
respiration.
One glucose molecule breaks down to It produces 6 NADH2, 2 FADH2, and 2 ATP molecules
4. 4.
generate 2 NADH2 and 2 ATP molecules. on breakdown of two acetyl-coA molecules.
Question 8: What are the assumptions made during the calculation of net gain of ATP?
ANSWER: For theoretical calculation of ATP molecules, various assumptions are made, which are as follows.
(a) It is assumed that various parts of aerobic respiration such as glycolysis, TCA cycle, and ETS occur in a sequential and
orderly pathway.
(b) NADH produced during the process of glycolysis enters into mitochondria to undergo oxidative phosphorylation.
(c) Glucose molecule is assumed to be the only substrate while it is assumed that no other molecule enters the pathway at
intermediate stages.
(d) The intermediates produced during respiration are not utilized in any other process.
Question 9: Discuss “The respiratory pathway is an amphibolic pathway.”
ANSWER: Respiration is generally assumed to be a catabolic process because during respiration, various substrates are
broken down for deriving energy. Carbohydrates are broken down to glucose before entering respiratory pathways. Fats get
converted into fatty acids and glycerol whereas fatty acids get converted into acetyl CoA before entering the respiration. In
a similar manner, proteins are converted into amino acids, which enter respiration after deamination.
During synthesis of fatty acids, acetyl CoA is withdrawn from respiratory pathway. Also, in the synthesis of proteins,
respiratory substrates get withdrawn. Thus, respiration is also involved in anabolism. Therefore, respiration can be termed
as amphibolic pathway as it involves both anabolism and catabolism.
Question 10: Define RQ. What is its value for fats?
ANSWER: Respiratory quotient (RQ) or respiratory ratio can be defined as the ratio of the volume of CO2 evolved to the
volume of O2 consumed during respiration. The value of respiratory quotient depends on the type of respiratory substrate.
Its value is one for carbohydrates. However, it is always less than one for fats as fats consume more oxygen for respiration
than carbohydrates.
It can be illustrated through the example of tripalmitin fatty acid, which consumes 145 molecules of O2 for respiration while
102 molecules of CO2 are evolved. The RQ value for tripalmitin is 0.7.
Question 11: What is oxidative phosphorylation?
ANSWER: Oxidative phosphorylation is a process in which electrons are transferred from electron donors to oxygen,
which acts as electron acceptor. The oxidation-reduction reactions are involved in the formation of proton gradient. The
main role in oxidative phosphorylation is played by the enzyme ATP synthase (complex V). This enzyme complex consists
of F0 and F1 components. The F1 headpiece is a peripheral membrane protein complex and contains the site for ATP
synthesis from ADP and inorganic phosphate. F0 component is a part of membrane protein complex, which acts as a channel
for crossing of the protons from inner mitochondrial membrane to the mitochondrial matrix. For every two protons passing
through F0–F1 complex, synthesis of one ATP molecule takes place.
Question 12: What is the significance of step-wise release of energy in respiration?
ANSWER: The process of aerobic respiration is divided into four phases – glycolysis, TCA cycle, ETS, and oxidative
phosphorylation. It is generally assumed that the process of respiration and production of ATP in each phase takes place in
a step-wise manner. The product of one pathway forms the substrate of the other pathway. Various molecules produced
during respiration are involved in other biochemical processes. The respiratory substrates enter and withdraw from pathway
on necessity. ATP gets utilized wherever required and enzymatic rates are generally controlled. Thus, the step-wise release
of energy makes the system more efficient in extracting and storing energy.

Shayar Singh, PGT – Biology. Kendriya Vidyalaya, Khargone