Respiratory Quotas

not on spec but can come up

Name some other respiratory substrates other than glucose

Lipids proteins

what are the benefits of using lipids over glucose and other sugars

lipids release more than twice the energy as carbohydrates per gram. Fats for example triglycerides contain lost of hydrogen on there fatty acid tails these hydrogens can form H+ ions when oxidised. These ions can be picked up by coenzymes and used in the ETC to produce ATP.

when is protein used as a respiratory substrate

only used when an organism is starving

the protein is hydrolysed into its amino acids and the NH2 is removed and can be fed into krebs

what is a respiratory quotas and what can it be used to do

This is the ratio of CO2 given off to oxygen used up in respiration it can be used to help identify the type of molecule being used in respiration

respiratory quotient RQ equation (this should be given in question here just so its familiar not in spec but can come up )

RQ=CO2 given off / O2 being used up

glucose normally = 1

proteins =0.9 to 0.8

lipids=0.7

C18H36O2 +26O2= 18CO2+18H2O more out respiratory quota 

18/26= 0.7 therefore lipid