anaerobic respiration

• this type of respiration takes place if oxygen not available, but it provides less energy
• glucose = 2 ATP =pyruvate = lactate (lactate goes back to pyruvate if oxygen becomes available)
• pyruvate


  molecule that is involved in energy generation, can be either converted to lactate under anaerobic conditions
• pyruvate


  or broken down to water and carbon dioxide in presence of oxygen, thus generating large amounts of ATP
• glycolysis is process that takes place in cell cytoplasm that breaks down glucose and forms pyruvate, with production of two molecules of ATP
• pyruvate can be used in

  either anaerobic respiration if no oxygen is available or in aerobic via cycle of chemical reactions that yield much more usable energy for cell
• pyruvic acid supplies energy to cells through citric acid cycle (krebs cycle)
• when oxygen is present (aerobic), when oxygen is lacking, it ferments to produce lactic acid
• lactic acid needs to be oxidised later to carbon dioxide and water to prevent it building up
• if oxygen doesn't become available cells die, because lactate is toxic
• anaerobic respiration is likely to occur when oxygen is in short supply, such as when exercising because muscle cells need a lot of energy