What happens if no oxygen is present for cellular respiration?
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Solution
Cellular respiration: It is a series of metabolic events that occur within cells to convert biological energy supplied from food into a chemical molecule known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Cellular respiration can occur aerobically (with oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen).
During aerobic cellular respiration, glucose combines with oxygen to generate ATP, which the cell can utilize.
As a byproduct, carbon dioxide and water are produced.
ATP is formed when glucose and oxygen react during cellular respiration.
If no oxygen is present for cellular respiration, anaerobic respiration occurs.
Sulfate, nitrate, or fumarate are employed in anaerobic organisms.
Although they are less effective and have a lower reduction potential than oxygen.
Oxygen, on the other hand, is a highly oxidizing agent that releases a lot of energy.
Sulfate and nitrate have a lower energy release per oxidized molecule.
As a result, anaerobic respiration is less effective and happens in prokaryotic organisms that survive in an oxygen-free environment.
Under anaerobic conditions, yeast achieves incomplete oxidation of glucose through a series of processes in which pyruvic acid is transformed into carbon dioxide and ethanol.
These processes are catalyzed by the enzymes pyruvic acid decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase.
Other creatures, such as bacteria, generate lactic acid from pyruvic acid.
