Anaerobic Respiration

what is the purpose of anaerobic respiration

To produce a small amount of energy

what happens in anaerobic respiration in plants

alcoholic fermentation forming ethanol

what happens in anaerobic respiration in animals

lactate fermentation forming lactic acid/lactate

what happens to the pyruvate during anaerobic respiration in animals

pyruvate reduced (hydrogen added) by reduced NAD regenerating the NAD using lactate dehydrogenase to form lactate

What can happen to the lactate when oxygen is available again

lactate is transported to liver and is broken down back into pyruvate which can continue to link cycle

What is the enzyme needed to convert pyruvate to lactate

Lactate dehydrogenase

What happens to pyruvate during anaerobic respiration in plants

• pyruvate decarboxylated (CO2 removed) to form ethanal

• Reduced NAD formed in glycolysis converts ethanal to ethanol by reducing it (adding hydrogen)

• Requires alcohol dehydrogenase

What is required for ethanal to be converted to ethanol

Alcohol dehydrogenase

How are rice plants adapted to living in oxygen deprived environments

• parenchyma - specially addapted

• Arenchyma = spaces to allow movement of air into roots

• Rice leaves are ridged to help trap air next to leaf

• Can cope with higher levels of alcohol

  • High levels of alcohol dehydrogenase breaks down ethanol