Aerobic/Anaerobic

Respiration
When We Exercise…
After two minutes of exercise, the body responds by supplying
working muscles with oxygen.
When oxygen is present, glucose can be completely broken
down into carbon dioxide and water
All living organisms break down sugars to
get energy.
In humans this breakdown usually occurs
with oxygen.
Definitions of anaerobic and aerobic metabolism

 Aerobic metabolism is the production of ATP with

oxygen.

 Anaerobic metabolism is the production of ATP without

oxygen.
What is Aerobic Respiration?
 The breaking down of sugar to produce energy where oxygen
is present.

C 6 H 12O6  6O2 Enzymes

  6CO2  6 H 2 O  36 ATP

Glucose + Oxygen  Carbon Dioxide + Water+ Energy

Anaerobic Respiration refers to the oxidation of
molecules in the absence of oxygen to produce
energy.

It is also known As Fermentation.

2 ATP  C6 H12O6 Enzymes

  2CH 3CH 2OH  2CO2  4 ATP

Energy + Glucose 

Yeast Ethanol + Carbon Dioxide + Energy
What happens when fermentation occurs?

1. In Muscle Cells- During extraneous activities, the oxygen

in the muscle tissue is decreased to an extent that aerobic
respiration does not occur at a sufficient rate. Hence, there
is a buildup of lactic acid and your muscles get tired

2. In Yeast- The fermentation end product is ethyl alcohol,

and CO2
Approximate percentages of aerobic and anaerobic contributions
to ATP production
Approximate percentages of aerobic and anaerobic
contributions to ATP production (cont.)
Summary of aerobic metabolism
 Of carbohydrates
 Anaerobic glycolysis precedes aerobic phases of ATP production

 Of fats (fatty acid oxidation)

1. Fatty acids are liberated from storage as a part of triglycerides
2. Long carbon chain fatty acids are metabolized through beta
oxidation into two carbon acetyl coenzyme A molecules
3. These enter the Krebs cycle and go through the ETS for ATP
production

 Of protein
1. Amino acids are converted into keto acids by the liver or muscle
2. Keto acids form substances that produce ATP through the Krebs
cycle and ETS
Fat, carbohydrate,
and protein can be
used to produce
ATP aerobically
Anaerobic ATP production

ATP can be produced anaerobically through two pathways:

 ATP-PC system
 Anaerobic glycolysis
 The three primary enzymatic reactions that
occur in the ATP-PC system
Myosin
1. ATP ADP + inorganic phosphate (Pi) + energy
ATPase

2. PC + ADP Creatine ATP + C

Kinase (CK)

Adenylate
3. 2ADP ATP + AMP (Adenosine monophosphate
Kinase (AK)
Anaerobic glycolysis
 The primary system for ATP production for
activities that last from approximately 20–30
seconds to two to three minutes
 The breakdown of glucose to lactate without the
use of oxygen
Anaerobic glycolysis
involves the breakdown of
glucose to lactate.
The reactants, enzymes, and products for the two steps
in glycolysis where ATP is produced

 Step 1
 Reactant: 1, 3-bisphosphoglycerate
 Enzyme: phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK)
 Product: 3-phosphoglycerate

 Step 2
 Reactant: phosphoenolpyruvate
 Enzyme: pyruvate kinase (PK)
 Product: pyruvate
The reactants, enzymes, and products for the
two steps in glycolysis where ATP is used
 Step 1
 Reactant: blood glucose
 Enzyme: hexokinase (HK)
 Product: glucose-6-phosphate

 Step 2
 Reactant: fructose-6-phosphate
 Enzyme: phosphofructokinase (PFK)
 Product: fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate
The reactant, enzyme, and product for the
step in glycolysis where NAD is reduced

 Reactant: glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate

 Enzyme: glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate
dehydrogenase
 Product: 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate
The reactant, enzyme, and product for
the step in glycolysis where NAD is
oxidized

 Reactant: pyruvate
 Enzyme: lactate dehydrogenase
 Product: Lactate
The role of Phosphofructokinase (PFK)

 It is the rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis

 It is the weak link—the rate of conversion of the
reactant to product through enzymatic steps can
proceed no faster than the rate-limiting enzyme
will allow.
Aerobic metabolism of carbohydrates

 In the presence of sufficient oxygen, pyruvate

from glycolysis enters muscle fiber mitochondria
 There, ATP is produced in the Krebs cycle and
ETS
 Produces 38 molecules of ATP per molecule of
glucose
The Krebs cycle
occurs within the
mitochondria of the
muscle fiber
The four steps where NAD is reduced during the
aerobic metabolization of carbohydrates

 Step 1  Step 3
 Reactant: pyruvate  Reactant: alpha-
 Enzyme: pyruvate ketoglutarate
dehydrogenase  Enzyme: alpha-
complex ketoglutarate
 Product: acetyl  Product: succinyl
coenzyme A coenzyme A
 Step 2  Step 4
 Reactant: isocitrate  Reactant: malate
 Enzyme: isocitrate  Enzyme: malate
dehydrogenase dehydrogenase
 Product: alpha-  Product: oxaloacetate
ketoglutarate
The reactant, enzyme, and product for
the step in the Kreb’s cycle where
FAD is reduced

 Reactant: succinate
 Enzyme: succinate dehydrogenese
 Product: fumarate
The reactant, enzyme, and product in the
Kreb’s Cycle where ATP is produced

 Reactant: succinyl coenzyme A

 Enzyme: succinyl coenzyme A synthetase
 Product: succinate
Anaerobic breakdown of glucose results in the net
production of only 2 ATP, while aerobic metabolism
nets 38 ATP
Comparison of the power and capacity of the various
energy production systems

 The ATP-PC system has low capacity because there is a limited

store of phosphagens available.
 Carbohydrate oxidation is limited by glycogen depletion.
 Fatty acid metabolism has the greatest capacity because, under
normal conditions, each person has an inexhaustible supply of
energy-rich fats.
There is an inverse relationship between the power and
capacity of energy production systems
Thank you