1.

Question : Describe the mechanism of anaerobic respiration.

Answer»

Solution :1. Anaerobic respiration : Respiration in the absence of molecular oxygen is called anaerobic respiration.
2. Mechanism of anaerobic respiration : Anaerobic respiration occurs in the following three steps :
(1) Glycolysis : During glycolysis, GLUCOSE is broken down to two molecules of pyruvate, two molecules of `NADH_(2)` and two molecules of ATP ALONG EMP pathway as shown below: `C_(6)H_(12)O_(6) + 2NAD + 2ADP + 2iP rarr 2CH_(3)CO.COOH + 2NADH_(2) + 2ATP`
(2) Decarboxylatlon: The pyruvate undergoes decarboxylation to form acetaldehyde. This reaction occurs in the presence of pyruvate decarboxylase enzyme which REQUIRES TPP (THYMINE pyrophosphate) as coenzyme and `Zn^(++)` as cofactor as shown below :

(3) Reduction : The acetaldehyde is finally reduced to ethyl alcohol by accepting hydrogen atoms from NADH2 produced during glycolysis. This reaction occurs in the presence of the enzyme ethanol dehyd rogenase as shown below :

During this process, since ethyl alcohol is produced, as end product, it is used in fermentation industries for the production of alcohol from molasses. It is also used in bakeries. The overall equation of anaerobic respiration can be summarized :
`C_(6)H_(12)O_(6) + rarr 2C_(2)H_(5)OH + 2CO_(2) + 2ATP`


Discussion

No Comment Found

Related InterviewSolutions