Respiration

Biological process whereby the energy

stored in carbohydrates from PS is released
in a step-wise, controlled manner.
Energy released is coupled to the synthesis
of ATP.
ATP is essential for plant cell maintenance,
growth and development

Carbohydrate Conversion
Starch

glucose

Sucrose + water

glucose + fructose

Equation for Aerobic Respiration

C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O

6CO2 + 12H2O + energy

(glucose)

(ATP)

1 mole glucose

36 ATP

Efficiency of Aerobic Respiration

ADP-P bond releases -7.6 kcal/mol ATP when
bond is broken
Theoretical energy yield from burning 1mol
glucose in a calorimeter = -686 kcal/mol
Practical yield from burning 1mol of glucose in
the cell with oxygen = 36ATP
36 ATP X -7.6 kcal/mol = -274 kcal/mol glucose
274/686 kcal/mol X 100 = 40% efficiency

Efficiency of Anaerobic Respiration

ADP-P bond releases -7.6 kcal/mol ATP when
bond is broken
Theoretical energy yield from burning 1mol
glucose in a calorimeter = -686 kcal/mol
Practical yield from burning 1mol of glucose in
the cell without oxygen = 2 ATP
2 ATP X -7.6 kcal/mol = -15.2 kcal/mol glucose
15.2/686 kcal/mol X 100 = 2.2% efficiency

3 Stages of Respiration
Glycolysis
TCA Cycle
Electron Transport Chain

Glycolysis
Occurs in all living organisms
Only stage which can occur without oxygen
Oldest stage of respiration
operated for billions of years in anaerobic organisms

Converts glucose to 2 pyruvates in cytosol

with O2 goes on to TCA cycle
without O2 pyruvate is converted to lactate or ethanol
(fermentation)

Yields 2ATP/mole glucose in the absence of O2

Glycolysis
Glucose (6C)

2 Pyruvate (3C)
CO2

-O2

-O2
+O2

Ethanol

Lactate
TCA Cycle

TCA
cycle

Electron Transport System

NADH and FADH2
e-

H+

ATP
e-

H+

4e- + 4H+ + O2

2H2O

cyt. oxidase

Chemiosmotic model
H

H+

H+
H

H+
+

H+

H+

H+

H+

H+
H+

H+

H+
H+

Ion concentration difference represents a source of

free energy

Chemiosmotic model
H

H+

H+

H+
H+

H+ + H+
H

H+

H+

H+

H+
+
H
H+

H+

The energy represented by the H+ gradient is converted to a

chemical form (ATP) via the ATP synthase

3 Stages of Respiration
Glycolysis
cytoplasm
with or without oxygen present
breaks glucose (6C) into 2 pyruvates (3C)

TCA Cycle
mitochondrial matrix
only if oxygen present
converts pyruvate via acetyl CoA into CO 2; generates NADH and FADH2

Electron Transport Chain

mitochondrial membranes = cristae
transfers electrons from NADH and FADH 2 to reduce O2 to H2O and
generate ATP

 Spherical to oval

Mitochondria

about 1 micron diameter

# mito./cell increases with demand for respiration; 300-1000/root tip cell

Double-membrane bound
outer smooth
inner folds forming cristae
controls movement in/out
site of electron transportm

Matrix
soluble phase
site of TCA cycle; DNA, RNA, ribosomes

cristae

matrix

Alternate Fates of Glucose C

Not all C respired to CO2
Intermediates of respiration branch off:

amino acids
pentoses for cell wall structure
nucleotides
porphyrin biosynthesis
fatty acid synthesis
lignin precursors
precursors for carotenoid synthesis, hormones

Factors Affecting Resp. Rate

[Substrate]
[ATP]
[Oxygen]
Temperature
Plant type
Plant organ
Plant age

Factors: Substrate Availability

Resp. higher right after sundown compared to
right before sunrise due to [S]
Shaded leaves respire slower than lighted
leaves
Starvation of plant tissue results in utilization
of proteins
High [ATP] in cell and get negative feedback
on resp.

Factors: [Oxygen]
No effect until [O2] < 1%
Cyt oxidase not sensitive to O2 until 0.05%

O2 diffuses in water 10,000 X slower than in air

Some plants have intercellular air system, e.g.,
aerenchyma in shoots and roots (rice)
Very low levels of O2 see accelerated breakdown
of sugars to ethanol and CO2 evolved = Pasteur
Effect

Factors: Temperature
Q10 for respiration is 2.0 - 2.5 between 5 and 25C
Q10 = rate of process at one temperature divided
by the rate at 10C lower temp.
Decreases with most plant tissues at 30-35C
O2 being used so fast, it cant diffuse fast enough into
tissues

Tropical regions - 70-80% PS C lost to resp. due

to high night temperatures and resp. rates

Factors: Plant Type/Organ/Age

Resp. rate tends to increase with age of plant
Young trees lose about 1/3 daily PS C to resp. and doubles with
older trees as ratio of PS/Non-PS tissue decreases

Greater metabolic activity = greater resp. rates

Root tips, dev. buds and meristematic regions in general have
higher respiration rates
In veg. tissues, resp. decreases from the tip to the mature regions

Seeds - low resp. rates, dormant, desiccation results in

slowdown of respiration

Factors: Plant Type/Organ/Age (cont.)

Ripening Fruit
Resp. high when young cells are dividing and growing

Climacteric Fruit (apples, tomatoes)

Sharp increase in rate immediately before fruit ripening = climacteric rise in
respiration
Coincides with full ripeness and flavor and preceded by huge increase in ethylene
production
This leads to senescence and decrease in respiration

Non-climacteric Fruit
Citrus, cherries, grapes, pineapple, strawberries
Insensitive to ethylene

Controlled Atmosphere Storage

Lower O2 (2% - 3%) & raise CO2 (5% - 10%)
slows down resp.

No ethylene
high CO2 also inhibits ethylene synthesis

Temps. typically about -1 to -0.5C

Pick apples in Sept./Oct. when green and immature and
store in CA
expose to normal air with ethylene when ready to sell
fresh apples in March

Cyanide Resistant Respiration

Aerobic resp. (cyt oxidase) in plants and animals
inhibited by CN- and N3- (azide)
bind to Fe in enzyme and halts e- transport

Animals: CN causes resp. to decrease fast, virtually

irreversible and fatal
Plants: display a 10-25% CN-resistant resp. and
alternate pathway for electron flow
electron flow branches off to alternate oxidase
less ATP produced

Cyanide Resistant Respiration (cont.)

Metabolic Role?
No clear role
Operates when cyt oxidase poisoned
Energy overflow hypothesis
overflow for electrons when resp. rate exceeds demand for
ATP; high with high carbo. levels

Skunk cabbage, Voodoo lily, Stinking lily: CN-res.

pathway causes temp. of spadix to increase 10-20C.
volatilization of odiferous cmpds which attract pollinators