Introduction
Cellular respiration is the process that cells use to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Cellular respiration occurs in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Cellular respiration can be classified as aerobic or anaerobic, depending on the amount of oxygen required. Food is the energy source which is necessary for all cellular activity.
Burning or oxidising glucose in the presence of oxygen is known as aerobic respiration, which produces energy (ATP). The three steps of aerobic respiration are glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (TCA cycle) and the electron transport system (ETS). Cytoplasm and mitochondria are places where aerobic respiration occurs.
Anaerobic respiration is a form of cellular respiration where oxygen is not present. Another name for this process is fermentation. They will not participate in the ETS or TCA cycles. Pyruvic acid is produced here as a result of incomplete glycolysis. Further pyruvic acid reduction results in ethanol, carbon dioxide and ATP production. This process is commonly referred to as alcoholic fermentation.
Fermentation occurs under anaerobic conditions within animal muscle cells, producing lactic acid and ATP. Compared to aerobic respiration, the total number of ATP molecules released during fermentation is less.
Table of Contents
- Anaerobic Respiration in Plants
- Anaerobic Respiration in Animals
- Difference between Anaerobic Respiration in Plants and Animals
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Anaerobic Respiration in Plants
The process of producing energy in an enzymatically regulated step-by-step form based on the absence of oxygen molecules is known as anaerobic respiration. It can also be described as the incomplete oxidation of organic food without utilising oxygen as a suitable oxidant.
Some prokaryotes, parasites, and a few unicellular eukaryotes use anaerobic respiration as their only form of respiration. Carbon dioxide and ethanol are the byproducts of plants’ anaerobic respiration. It is also referred to as alcoholic fermentation since it results in the formation of ethyl alcohol. The medium appears foamy at the end of the reaction because carbon dioxide is produced.
Additionally, two main enzymes take part in this process. The first cytoplasmic enzyme, pyruvate decarboxylase, converts pyruvate into acetaldehyde by eliminating one CO2 molecule. This reaction also makes use of the coenzyme thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). Acetaldehyde is later transformed into ethyl alcohol by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.
NADH, produced during glycolysis, is used to make hydrogen for the purpose mentioned above; this form of anaerobic respiration results in the production of 2 ATP. Moreover, a certain amount of alcohol accumulation might impair plant cells.
Anaerobic Respiration in Animals
Lactic acid is the byproduct of anaerobic respiration in animals. Without molecule oxygen, anaerobic respiration occurs in animal muscle cells. As a result, it is often referred to as homolactic fermentation. The liver receives the lactic acid that muscle cells produce to regenerate glucose. The pyruvic acid produced during glycolysis is often reduced directly by NADH to produce lactic acid during lactic acid fermentation.
This reaction does not result in the formation of CO2 gas. Lactic dehydrogenase is the enzyme responsible for catalysing this reaction; it needs the coenzyme FMN (flavin mononucleotide) and cofactor Zn2+. Furthermore, anaerobic respiration in animals produces 2ATP (lactic acid fermentation).
Alcoholic and lactic acid fermentation are the two primary kinds of animal anaerobic respiration.
Difference between Anaerobic Respiration in Plants and Animals
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Anaerobic Respiration in Plants |
Anaerobic Respiration in Animals |
|---|---|
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It is a process that produces ethanol and carbon dioxide as end products |
It is a process that produces lactic acid as the end product |
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Causes foaming due to the release of CO2 |
Does not release carbon dioxide or foam |
|
Enzymes include pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme |
Enzyme includes Lactic dehydrogenase enzyme |
|
Occurs in plant cells |
Occurs in animal cells |
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Coenzyme involves thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) |
Coenzyme involves FMN (flavin mononucleotide) and cofactor Zn2+ |
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More heat is released |
Less heat is released |
|
Affects plant life |
It does not affect animal life |
Because only a partial breakdown of glucose occurs during anaerobic respiration without oxygen, it produces substantially less energy. All living things that obtain energy from anaerobic respiration can survive without oxygen.
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Related Links:
- Aerobic and Anaerobic Respiration
- Cellular Respiration: Aerobic vs Anaerobic
- How is anaerobic respiration in plants and animals different?
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