Anaerobic respiration

• Glycolysis still occurs in anaerobic respiration, which forms 2 pyruvate molecules
• Anaerobic respiration in plants and microorganisms

  • pyruvate loses a carbon dioxide
  • reduced NAD is oxidised
  • one hydrogen atom is passed to pyruvate
  • produces ethanol
• Anaerobic respiration in organisms occurs because respiration rate is too high for oxygen to reach the respiring tissues
• Anaerobic respiration in animals

  • pyruvates are reduced from gaining a hydrogen from reduced NAD, which oxidises the NAD
  • this produces lactate
• Consequences of anaerobic respiration

  • lactate concentration increases
  • lowers pH
  • denatures proteins
• When oxygen becomes available again

  • lactate is oxidised back to pyruvate
  • this then enters the link reaction, Krebs cycle and electron transport chain