Question

What is anerobic respiration?

How does it takes place

Answer 1

The anaerobic respiration definition states that it is the pathway where the glucose is broken down into molecules in the absence of oxygen to produce energy. The first step in all cellular respiration pathways is glycolysis that takes place without the presence of molecular oxygen. If there is oxygen in the cell, then it automatically turns to aerobic respiration with the help of tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA). The TCA cycle helps in production of usable energy in the form of ATP that is higher in quantity than any anaerobic respiration process.

The anaerobic cellular respiration process is the sole cycle for production of energy for many anaerobic bacteria. Many eukaryotic cells also switch on their anaerobic respiration process in case the oxygen supply is low. The best example for this process in eukaryotic cells is the human muscles. Let us see this through the following example:

Anaerobic Respiration Equation
In anaerobic respiration process, glycolysis, which is the first step, is an aerobic cellular respiration. This step yields two ATP molecules. The product of glycolysis is pyruvate that used in anaerobic respiration fermentation. This anaerobic respiration fermentation helps in production of ethanol and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD⁺) or for production of lactate and NAD⁺. The production of NAD⁺ is very necessary as glycolysis uses it, and if there is depletion of NAD⁺, it will lead to cell death. Anaerobic respiration process follows the Krebs cycle and occurs in the fluid of cytoplasm. The major energy yield of aerobic respiration takes place in the mitochondria. A lot of energy goes waste in the form of ethanol and lactate molecules as the cell cannot utilize them. Instead, they excrete these products as waste. Anaerobic respiration takes place in the form of two pathways, alcoholic fermentation and lactic acid fermentation. Below is the chemical equation for anaerobic respiration:

Anaerobic Respiration Formula
2ATP"+ C ₆H ₁₂0₆ Enzymes 2CH₃CH₂OH + 2CO₂ + 4ATP

Anaerobic respiration takes place in the fluid portion of the cytoplasm of cells, away from the mitochondria or any other organelles. It begins with glycolysis, which breaks apart glucose and generates energy and a compound known as pyruvate, and also includes fermentation, which breaks down the pyruvate for more energy.