ENERGY AND RESPIRATION

Learning Outcomes: Energy 12.1 Part 1

outline the need for energy in living organisms, as illustrated
by anabolic reactions, such as DNA replication and protein
synthesis, active transport, movement and the maintenance of
body temperature
Describe the features of ATP that make it suitable as the
universal energy currency
Explain that ATP is synthesized in substrate-linked reactions in
glycolysis and in the Krebs cycle
Outline the roles of the coenzymes NAD, FAD and
coenzyme A in respiration
Explain that the synthesis of ATP is associated with the
electron transport chain on the membranes of mitochondria
and chloroplasts
Explain the relative energy values of carbohydrate, lipid and
protein as respiratory substrates and explain why lipids are
particularly energy-rich
Define the term respiratory quotient (RQ) and determine RQs
from equations for respiration
Carry out investigations, using simple respirometers, to
determine the RQ of germinating seeds or small invertebrates
(e.g. blowfly larvae)
 outline the need for energy in living
organisms
Energy is used in living organisms to do work.
Work in a living organism includes:
1- The synthesis of complex substances from simpler ones (anabolic reactions) such
as the synthesis of polypeptides from amino acids, DNA Replication and Protein
Synthesis
2- The active transport of substances against a concentration gradient such as the
activity of sodium-potassium pump;
3- Mechanical work (Movement) such as muscle contraction and other cellular
movements, for example the movement of cilia and flagella, amoeboid movement
and the movement of vesicles through cytoplasm;
4- In a few organisms, bioluminescence and electrical discharge.
5- Mammals and birds use thermal energy from metabolic reactions to maintain a
constant body temperature
Describe the features of ATP that make it suitable as the
universal energy currency
1- Loss of phosphate leads to energy release / hydrolysis releases 30.5
kJ.
ATP is Small packets of energy;
Its Small / water soluble, so can move around cell
Used by cells as immediate energy donor
Turnover or interconversion rate of ATP & ADP is high to provide
energy.
Two examples of use; protein synthesis; active transport, muscle
contraction
 The Role of NAD,FAD and CO-Enzyme A in
Aerobic Respiration
NAD is made of two linked nucleotides.
Both nucleotides contain ribose.
One nucleotide contains the nitrogenous base adenine.
The other has a nicotinamide ring, which can accept a hydrogen ion
and two electrons, thereby becoming reduced
They carries electron and protons from Krebs Cycle and Glycolysis to
Electron Transfer Chain
FAD (Flavin adenine dinucleotide) is similar in function to NAD and
is used in respiration in the Krebs cycle
CO enzyme A IS A Complex of a nucleoside (adenine+ribose) with a
vitamin it acts as a carrier of acetyl groups (2C) to the Kerbs Cycle
Explain that the synthesis of ATP is associated with the
electron transport chain
most ATP in cells is generated using electrical potential energy .
1)This Energy is Released during the transfer of electrons by electron carries in
mitochondria and Chloroplast

2)It is stored as a difference in proton (hydrogen ion) concentration across some

phospholipid membranes in mitochondria and chloroplasts, which are essentially
impermeable to protons.

3)This creates a proton gradient in the intermembrane space of the mitochondria and the
thylakoid space of the chloroplast

4)Proton then flow down their Concentration gradient (facilitated diffusion) through
protein channel that Spans through the phospholipid bilayer part of this protein act as an
enzyme that synthesis ATP called ATP synthase

5)The transfer of three protons 3H+ allows the production of one ATP molecule ADP
And Pi (an organic phosphate molecule) is available inside the organelle
ADP+Pi=ATP
Energy values and Respiratory Substrates
Most of the energy liberated in aerobic respiration comes from the
oxidation of hydrogen to water when reduced NAD and reduced FAD
are passed to the electron transport chain
The greater the number of hydrogen's in the structure of the
substrate molecule, the greater the energy value
Fatty acids have more hydrogen's per molecule than carbohydrates
so lipids have a greater energy value / more hydrogen bonds C-H per
unit mass, or energy density, than carbohydrates or proteins

Define the term respiratory quotient (RQ) and

determine RQs
from equations for respiration

Its the volume of carbon dioxide produced divided by the volume of

oxygen used during Respiration
 For Example, Aerobic Respiration of Glucose
Carbohydrates:
C6 H12 O6 +6O2 +6CO2 +6O2 +E
6CO2
6O2
RQ =1.0
For a Lipid: 2C57+H22O6+163 O2+11CO2++110H20
114 CO2
163 O2
RQ= 0.7
2) C18 H36 O2 + 26 O2 18 CO2+ 18 H2O RQ = CO2 / O2 =18/26 = 0.69
(almost 0.7)
 Importance of using RQ:
1-To find out what is the substrate used in respiration
2-To find out whether aerobic or anaerobic respiration is taking place
Anaerobic Respiration (Alcoholic Fermentation
of Glucose in Yeast)
In reality, some respiration in the yeast cell will be aerobic, and so a small
volume of oxygen will be taken up and the RQ will be less than infinity.
High values of RQ indicate that alcoholic fermentation is occurring.
Note that no RQ can be calculated for muscle cells using the lactate
pathway, as no carbon dioxide is produced
lactate pathway
C6 H12 O6 + 3O2 3C4 H6 O56 + 3H2O+ E

RQ= 0
3O2 =0.0
Carry out investigations, using simple
respirometers..
Respirometers, Oxygen uptake during respiration can be measured
using a respirometer.
A respirometer suitable for measuring the rate of oxygen consumption
of seeds or small invertebrates at different temperatures
 The apparatus will be set up similar to the picture ( slide 12)
Carbon dioxide produced in respiration by seeds or the small invertebrates is
absorbed by a suitable chemical such as soda-lime or a concentrated solution of
potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in the first test tube the
Test tube is covered with lid.
Any decrease in the volume of air surrounding the organisms results from their
oxygen consumption.
Oxygen consumption in unit time can be measured by reading the level of the
manometer fluid against the scale.
Changes in temperature and pressure alter the volume of air in the apparatus,
and so the temperature of the surroundings must be kept constant while
readings are taken for example, by using a thermostatically controlled water
bath.
The presence of a control tube containing an equal volume of inert material to
the volume of the organisms used helps to compensate for changes in
atmospheric pressure
 Once the Reading has been Taken at Series of Temperature a Graph can
be Plotted of Oxygen Consumption Against Temperature

How to measure RQ of An Organism using

Respirometers

The same apparatus can be used to measure the RQ of an organism. First,

oxygen consumption at a particular temperature is found (x cm3 min-1).
Then the respirometer is set up with the same organism at the same
temperature, but with no chemical to absorb carbon dioxide. The
manometer scale will show whether the volumes of oxygen absorbed and
carbon dioxide produced are the same
 When the volumes are the same, the level of the manometer fluid wills
not change and the RQ = 1. When more carbon dioxide is produced than
oxygen absorbed, the scale will show an increase in the volume of air in
the respirometer (by y cm3 min-1). The RQ can then be calculated
 - when less carbon dioxide is produced than oxygen
absorbed, the volume of air in the respirometer will
decrease by (z cm3 min-1) and the calculation will be:
How to investigate the rate of respiration of
yeast is to use a redox dye such as a solution
of dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) or of
methylene blue

These dyes do not damage cells and so can be added to a suspension of yeast
cells
When reduced, these blue dyes become colorless.
The rate of change from blue to colorless is a measure of the rate of respiration
of the yeast.
This technique can be used to investigate the effect of various factors on yeast
respiration, such as temperature, substrate concentration or different substrates