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RESPIRATION IN
PLANTS

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Chapter 14
Respiration in Plants
Glycolysis

Gustav Embden, Otto Meyerhof and J. Parnas (1930) discovered glycolysis. It is often
referred to as the EMP pathway.
In anaerobic organisms, it is the only process in respiration.
Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm (cytoplasmic matrix of a living cell) and does not use
oxygen. Thus, it is an anaerobic pathway.
In this process, glucose is partially oxidized/converted into two molecules of pyruvic acid.
In plants, glucose is derived from sucrose, which is the end product of photosynthesis, or
from storage carbohydrates. Sucrose is converted into glucose and fructose by the enzyme,
invertase, and these two monosaccharides readily enter the glycolytic pathway.
The reduction of the glucose during glycolysis produce compounds for the synthesis of
proteins, fats & nucleic acid.
Most of the steps of the glycolysis are reversible.
Glycolysis is divided into two phases
Preparatory phase : Breakdown of glucose & low energy phosphorylation occurs
(i)
and energy is used.
Oxidative phase : High energy phosphate bonds are formed & energy is stored.
(ii)
Steps of this cycle are as follows
Glucose and fructose are phosphorylated into glucose-6-phosphate with the help of
ATP, catalyzed by the enzyme hexokinase.
Glucose-6-phosphate is converted into its isomer, Fructose-6-phosphate, Isomerase,
catalyses this reaction.
Fructose-6-phosphate is phosphorylated into fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate with the use
of ATP catalyzed by phosphofructokinase.
Fructose 1, 6-bisphosphate is split into one molecule of 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde
and one molecule of dihydroxy-acetone phosphate (DHAP). These two products are
Connecting Concepts inter-convertible.
Some molecules, such as
phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) possess a 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde is oxidized to 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate, where NAD is
high energy phosphate bond similar to reduced to NADH.
the bonds in ATP. When PEPs phosphate 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate is split into 3-phosphoglycerate which is catalyzed by
group is transferred enzymatically to phosphoglycerate kinase along with the formation of ATP. It is called substrate
ADP, the energy in the bond is conserved level phosphorylation.
& ATP is created.
3-phosphoglycerate is subsequently converted into 2-phosphoglycerate and then into
phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP).
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PEP is converted into pyruvate or pyruvic acid, catalysed by the enzyme pyruvate
kinase along with the formation of ATP.
In glycolysis, four molecules of ATP are formed by two ways :

(i) Direct / substrate phosphorylation of ADP to ATP.

(ii) Another ATP is synthesized during the conversion of PEP to pyruvic acid.
Two ATP molecules are conserved in following steps :

(i) Phosphorylation of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate, and

(ii) Conversion of fructose-6-phosphate into fructose 1, 6 bisphosphate.
Two redox equivalents are removed in the form of two hydrogen atoms and transferred
to NAD+ from PGAL which is reduced to NADH + H+.
The end products of glycolysis are two molecules of pyruvic acid, NADH, water and
ATPs.

Check Point
Fill in the blank
(i) Glycolysis takes place in
__________.
(ii) During glycolysis ____________
molecules of NADH are formed.
(iii) In anaerobic respiration _________
is the only process in respiration.
(iv) 3-phosphoglycerate is converted
into 2- phosphoglycerate in presence
of ____________ enzyme.
(v) In glycolysis at step ____________
ATP is utilized and step no
____________ ATPs are produced.
(vi) End products of glycolysis are
2 molecules of ____________,
____________, ____________,
____________.
(vii) Pyruvic acid enters Krebs cycle in
the form of ____________.
(viii) Breakdown of glucose and
low phosphorylation occurs in
____________ phase.
(ix) Glycolysis is also called ____________
pathway.
(x) Glucose has ____________
carbon atoms and pyruvate has
____________ carbon atom.

Fig. 14.1 Schematic representation of glycolysis or EMP pathway
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Summary equation of glycolysis

C6 H12 O6 + 2ADP + 2Pi + 2NAD + 2CH3COCOOH + 2ATP + 2 NADH + 2H +

(glu cos e) (pyruvicacid)

In all, there are four phosphorylations during glycolysis. Two phosphate groups are
supplied by ATP and two by phosphoric acid.

No. of ATP used for phosphorylation of glucose in glycolysis is 2 (1st & 3rd reactions).

No. of ATP formed during glycolysis is 2 (4 2 = 2).

There are three major ways in which different cells handle pyruvic acid produced by
glycolysis. These are anaerobic respiration (lactic acid fermentation, alcoholic
fermentation) and aerobic respiration. Fermentation takes place under anaerobic
conditions in many prokaryotes and unicellular eukaryotes.
Table 14.3 Major steps, enzymes involved, substrates & end products of glycolysis.

Steps Substrates Enzyme cofactor End product

1. Phosphorylation Glucose + Hexokinase/ Mg2+ Glucose -6 phosphate
ATP

2. Isomerization Glucose -6- Phosphohexose Fructose-6- phosphate

phosphate isomerase/Mg2+

3. Phosphorylation Fructose-6- Phosphofructokinase/ Fructose, 1,6-

phosphate + Mg2+ diphosphate
ATP
4. Splitting Fructose 1,6 Aldolase 3PGAL (3, phosphogly-
diphosphate ceraldehyde) and DHAP
(dihydroxy acetone
3- phosphate)
DHAP Triose phosphate Glyceraldehyde 3
isomerase phosphate (Thus 2
molecules of 3 PGAL are
produced).
5. Each 3 PGAL Glycerald- Glyceraldehyde 1,3, diphosphoglycerate
undergoes ehyde -3- phosphate + NADH2
dehydrogenation & phosphate + dehydrogenase
phosphorylation NAD

6. Dephosphorylation 1,3 diphos- Phosphoglycerate 3 phosphoglycerate +

hoglycerate kinase/Mg2+ ATP

7. Isomerization 3-phosphog- Phosphoglycerate- 2 phosphoglycerate

lycerate mutase

8. Dehydration 2 phospho- Enolase/ Mg2+ PEP (phosphoenol

glycerate pyruvate)

9. Dephosphorylation PEP Pyruvate kinase / Pyruvate + ATP

Mg2+, K+

In steps 1, 3 ATP is utilized whereas in step 6, 9 ATPs are produced.

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NCERT Extract Biology

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EXERCISE
FACT/DEFINITION TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Glycolysis occurs in the ________ and produces________,
which in the presence of O2 enters the____________.
(a) cytosol; pyruvate; mitochondrion
(b) cytosol; glucose; mitochondrion
(c) mitochondrion; pyruvate; chloroplast
(d) chloroplast; glucose; cytosol
2. The enzymes, involved in the chemical reactions of
glycolysis are located
(a) in the fluid matrix of cytoplasm.
(b) in the mitochondrial matrix.
(c) in the nuclear sap.
(d) on the cristae of a mitochondria.
3. In which of the following reaction of glycolysis, a
molecule of water is removed from the substrate ?
(a) Frucoste-6-phosphate Fructose 1, 6-phosphate
(b) 3-phosphate glyceraldehyde
1, 3-biphosphoglyceric acid
(c) PEP Pyruvic acid
(d) 2-phosphoglycerate PEP
4. Which of the following statement regarding the process of
glycolysis is correct?
(a) Glucose undergoes complete oxidation to form two
molecules of pyruvic acid.
(b) Glucose undergoes partial oxidation to form one A B C D
molecule of pyruvic acid.
(c) Glucose undergoes complete oxidation to form one (a) Protein Acetyl CoA Fat DHAP
molecule of pyruvic acid.
(d) Glucose undergoes partial oxidation to form two (b) Fat DHAP Proteins Acetyl CoA
molecules of pyruvic acid. (c) Acetyl CoA Fat DHAP Protein
In the following questions, a statement of Assertion is followed
by a statement of Reason. (d) Fat DHAP Acetyl CoA Protein
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are true and the Reason is 8. During glycolysis, glucose split into
the correct explanation of the Assertion.
(a) two pyruvic acid molecules.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are true but the Reason is not (b) two coenzyme A molecules.
the correct explanation of the Assertion. (c) two lactic acid molecules.
(c) If Assertion is true but Reason is false. (d) one lactic acid plus one ethanol molecule.
(d) If both Assertion and Reason are false. 9. Which one is correct sequence in glycolysis?
5. Assertion : Glycolysis occurs in cytoplasm. (a) G 6-P PEP 3-PGAL 3-PGA
Reason : Enzymes for glycolysis are found in cytoplasm. (b) G 6-P 3-PGAL 3-PGA PEP
It is common in aerobic/anaerobic respiration. (c) G 6-P PEP 3-PGA 3-PGAL
6. Assertion : Glycolysis is the first step of respiration in (d) G 6-P 3-PGA 3-PGAL PEP
which glucose completely breaks into CO2 and H2O. 10. How many molecules of ATP are produced during
Reason : In this process, there is net gain of twenty four glycolysis?
molecules of ATP. (a) 2 (b) 4
7. The given figure represents the interelationship among (c) 6 (d) 8
metabolic pathways showing the respiration mediated
breakdown of different organic molecules to CO2 and
H2O. Now identify A to D.

HINTS & SOLUTION
1. (a) Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and does not use
oxygen. Thus, it is an anaerobic pathway. In this
process, glucose is partially oxidized/converted into
two molecules of pyruvate/ pyruvic acid. In aerobic
respiration pyruvate enters mitochondrion through
a specific transport protein. It undergoes oxidative
decarboxylation and dehydrogenation to produce
CO2 and NADH.
2. (a) Glycolysis occurs in the cytosol, where the glucose
molecule is converted into two molecules of the 3C
compound, pyruvate. The enzymes are located in the
fluid matrix of cytoplasm.
3. (d) During glycolysis, dehydration occurs in the
presence of enzyme enolase and cofactor Mg2+.
2-phosphoglycerate loses a molecule of water and is
changed into phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP).
4. (d) Glycolysis occurs in cytoplasm, is a common phase
of aerobic and anaerobic respiration. It is a partial
breakdown of glucose molecule into two molecules
of pyruvic acid.
5. (a) Glycolysis occurs in cytoplasm as all necessary
enzymes are found in it. This process is common in
aerobic/anaerobic respiration. In this process, one
glucose molecule is converted into two moles of
pyruvic acid.
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6. (d) Glycolysis is the process of breakdown of glucose
or similar hexose sugar into two molecules of
pyruvic acid through a series of enzyme mediated
reactions, releasing energy (ATP) and reducing
power (NADH2). It is the first step of respiration,
which occurs inside the cytoplasm and is
independent of O2. In glycolysis, two molecules of
ATP are consumed during double phosphorylation
of glucose to form fructose 1, 6 diphosphate. Four
molecules of ATP are produced in the conversion
of 1, 3-diphosphoglycerate to 3-phospho-glycerate
and phosphenol pyruvate to pyruvate whereas,
two molecules of NADH2 are formed during
oxidation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to
1,3-diphosphoglycerate. Since, each NADH is
equivalent to 3 ATP, so net gain in glycolysis is 8
ATP.
7. (b)
8. (a) Glycolysis is a partial breakdown of glucose
molecule into two molecules of pyruvic acid. It
occurs in cytoplasm and a common phase of aerobic
and anaerobic respiration.
9. (b) Glucose 6-phosphate 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde
3-phosphoglyceric acid phosphoenol pyruvate
pyruvic acid.
10. (a) Glycolysis is a partial breakdown of glucose molecule
into two molecules of pyruvic acid. Number of ATP
formed during glycolysis is 4 ( 2 ATP for each PGA).
Net gain of ATP during glycolysis is 2 (4 2= 2).