Senior High School

General Biology 1
Module 12:
Role of Oxygen in Respiration

LU_General Biology 1_Module12

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 GENERAL BIOLOGY 1
Module 12: Role of Oxygen in Respiration
Second Edition, 2021

Copyright © 2021
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form without written
permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Melanie B. Bernaldez

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team
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Office Address: Flores St. Catbangen, San Fernando City, La Union
Telefax: 072 – 205 – 0046
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LU_General Biology 1_Module12

 Senior High School

General Biology 1
Module 12:
Role of Oxygen in Respiration

LU_General Biology 1_Module12

 Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear
learners, can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities,
questions, directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you
to understand each lesson.

Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you
step-by-step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons in

each SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing this module
or if you need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better
understanding of the lesson. At the end of each module, you need to answer
the post-test to self-check your learning. Answer keys are provided for each
activity and test. We trust that you will be honest in using these.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher are
also provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on
how they can best help you on your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on
any part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises
and tests. And read the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in

answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher
or facilitator.

Thank you.

LU_General Biology 1_Module12

 Target

Cellular respiration comes in two forms, aerobic and anaerobic. In aerobic

respiration, oxygen is required by cells to convert glucose into energy whereas, in
anaerobic respiration, cells break down sugars to produce energy in the absence of
oxygen.

. In your previous lessons, you learned about the major features of glycolysis,
pyruvic oxidation, Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain. You also noted that
glycolysis uses and produces ATP. This module will provide you with the information
and activities that will help you understand the role of oxygen in respiration and
describe pathways of electron flow in the absence of oxygen.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. describe the role of oxygen in respiration and describe pathways
electron flow in the absence of oxygen (STEM_BIO11/12-IIa-j-10);
2. Describe the role of oxygen in respiration
3. Describe the pathways of electron flow in the absence of oxygen

PRE-TEST
Read carefully each item. Write only the letter of the correct answer on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. What gas is required in aerobic respiration?
A. carbon B. carbon dioxide C. nitrogen D. oxygen

2. What gas is produced in aerobic respiration?

A. carbon B. carbon dioxide C. nitrogen D. oxygen

3. Which of the following is a function of oxygen in aerobic respiration? Oxygen

_________.
A. fuels the process of glycolysis.
B. is needed to convert pyruvic to acetyl coenzyme A.
C. is the final acceptor in the electron transport chain.
D. is the gas needed to convert NADH to NAD in fermentation.

4. Which is a product of alcohol fermentation?

A. O2 B. ethanol C. lactic acid D. FADH2

5. Which of the following processes uses yeast to produce wine?

A. fermentation B. electron transport system
C. glycolysis D. Krebs cycle

LU_General Biology 1_Module12

 Jumpstart

Cellular respiration is an oxidative process that oxidizes an electron donor and

reduces oxygen for the development of carbon dioxide, water and electricity.

Activity 1. Read and do following task then answer the question that follow.

Running in place can help reduce some of the impact and stress on your body.
Before you continue answering this module, I want you to run in place for 2 minutes
and observe your heartbeat and breathing patterns from the start up to when you are
done.

What do you observe? What scientific explanation can you give about your
experience?

Discover

Oxygen is vital to survival of almost all organisms. Without it, generating

enough energy to fuel cellular processes is impossible. However, in some cases, the
absence of oxygen may still be beneficial to a number of organisms as this leads to
the formation of useful products.

The Role of Oxygen in Respiration

In aerobic cellular respiration, an oxygen molecule, O 2, is the final electron
acceptor for the electron transport chain. If aerobic respiration takes place, then,
during the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis, molecule of ATP will be
formed using energy from high-energy electrons brought to the electron transport
chain by NADH or FADH2.
If there is no NAD+ present to pick up electrons as the reactions continue,
glycolysis and the citric acid cycle do not occur. This is not a problem when oxygen is
present, all of the NADH and FADH2 that were created during glycolysis and the citric
acid cycle is transformed into NAD+ and FAD after the electron transport chain.

The electron transport chain is a series of electron transporters or complexes

embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane which shuttle electrons from NADH
and FADH2 to molecular oxygen. In the process, protons are pumped to the
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intermembrane space from the mitochondrial matrix, and oxygen is reduced to form
water.

There are four electron complexes to which electron move through before
ending with oxygen as the final acceptor. Complex I, Complex II, Complex III, and
Complex IV. Complex V is better known as ATP synthase, that which generates ATP.
There are two other molecules associated with the chain which are the coenzyme
Ubiquinone (coU) and cytochrome C (CytC).

The process starts when NADH approaches complex I and gives up its proton
and electron and becomes NAD. NADH donates its electrons to complex I and make it
supercharged which causes the pumping of H+ ions from the mitochondrial matrix to
the intermembrane space. Then electrons from complex I is picked up by CoU. FADH2
approaches complex II gives up and donates its electron. Unlike Complex I, complex II
is not supercharged so it cannot pump H+ ions. The electrons in complex II is passed
to coU. Then, electrons from coU are passed to Complex III and become supercharged
thus, allowing protons to be pumped out to the intermembrane space. The buildup of
H+ (protons) creates a proton gradient. Electrons from Complex III moves to cytC and
then passed to complex IV then becomes supercharged. Complex IV can pumped more
H+ (protons) to the intermembrane space. Electrons from Complex IV are passed to
oxygen as the final acceptor. Oxygen molecule splits into two. Two H2O molecules are
formed. NAD+ and FAD become available in the cell for cellular respiration to begin.

Source:[Link]

Figure 1. Electron Transport System with an oxygen

molecule as the final electron acceptor

LU_General Biology 1_Module12

Pathways of Electron Flow in the Absence of Oxygen

If there is no NAD+ present to pick up electrons, glycolysis and the citric acid
cycle do not occur. This is not a problem when oxygen is present, all of the NADH and
FADH2 that were created during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle is transformed
after the electron transport chain back into NAD + and FAD.

In aerobic respiration, the electron transport chain does not occur when no
oxygen is present since nothing will serve as the final acceptor of electrons. This means
that NADH's electrons will not be recognized by the ETC as its power source, so NAD+
will not be regenerated. For cells to continue to produce ATP, NADH must be converted
back to NAD+ for use as an electron carrier.

Anaerobic processes use different mechanisms, but all function to convert

NADH back to NAD+(Figure 2). There are two ways in which this is done. First is the
use of an organic molecule to regenerate NAD+ from NADH. This is collectively called
fermentation. Second is the use of inorganic molecule (such as nitrate or sulfur) to
regenerate NAD+. Both methods are referred to as anaerobic cellular respiration. They
do not require oxygen to regenerate NAD + and enable organisms and convert energy
for use in the absence of oxygen.

In anaerobic respiration, glycolysis occurs. The 2 molecules of NADH that are

generated in the process are converted back into NAD+ so that glycolysis can
continue. Since glycolysis generates only two net ATP molecules, anaerobic respiration
is much less efficient than aerobic respiration. However, 2 ATP molecules is so
essential as the cell dies if it does not generate any ATP at all. In anaerobic respiration,
the cell has to continue performing glycolysis to produce a minimal energy molecule
(2 ATP).

Anaerobic respiration uses molecules other than oxygen as the terminal

electron acceptors in the electron transport chain. The electron transport chain is still
included in this form, but without using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor.

Instead, as electron acceptors, molecules like sulfate (SO42-), nitrate (NO3), or

sulfur (S) are used. These molecules have a lower reduction potential than oxygen, so
in anaerobic versus aerobic environments, less energy is released per glucose
molecule. For fermentation, pyruvate serves as an electron acceptor to recycle NAD+.
Some bacteria use sulphate ion and produce hydrogen sulfide instead of water which
produces an odor like a rotten egg in some environment.

Anaerobic respiration uses several different types of electron acceptors. The

use of nitrate (NO3-) as the terminal electron acceptor is denitrification. Nitrate has a
high reduction potential, like oxygen. This process is widespread and is used by many
Proteobacteria members. Ferric iron (Fe2+) and various organic electron acceptors can
also be used by several denitrifying bacteria.
Sulfate reduction uses sulfate (SO2−4) as the acceptor of electrons, generating
as a metabolic end result hydrogen sulfide (H2S). A relatively energetically weak
method is sulfate reduction, which is used by many Gram-negative bacteria found
within the δ-Proteobacteria.
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Acetogenesis is a form of microbial metabolism that uses hydrogen (H2) for the
development of acetate as an electron donor and carbon dioxide ( CO2) as an electron
acceptor, the same electron donors and methanogenesis acceptors.

A widespread anaerobic terminal electron acceptor used by both autotrophic

and heterotrophic species is ferric iron (Fe3+). The flow of electrons in these species is
similar to the flow of electrons, resulting in oxygen or nitrate, except that the final
enzyme in this mechanism is ferric iron reductase in ferric iron-reducing species.

Source"[Link]
Figure 2. Anaerobic Respiration

Lactic Acid Fermentation

In lactic acid fermentation (Figure 2), glycolysis occurs the way it happens in
aerobic respiration. A glucose molecule breaks to form two pyruvate molecules. The
pyruvate molecules in this process does not undergo decarboxylation but will be
directly reduced by NADH to produce lactate. This allows the regeneration of NAD+
for use during glycolysis. It involves in no release of CO2.

The fermentation method used by animals and some bacteria like those in
yogurt is lactic acid fermentation. This occurs routinely in mammalian red blood cells
and in skeletal muscle that does not have enough oxygen to allow aerobic respiration to
continue (such as in muscles after hard exercise). The chemical reaction of lactic acid
fermentation is the following:

Pyruvic acid + NADH ↔ lactic acid + NAD+

Source: [Link]
Figure 3. Lactic Acid Fermentation

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Alcohol Fermentation
In alcohol fermentation (Figure 3) a glucose molecule breaks to form two
pyruvate molecules two ATP molecules using NAD+ in the process. Each pyruvate
undergoes decarboxylation to produce acetaldehyde. And finally, acetaldehyde is
reduced to ethanol using 2 molecules of NADH in the process. NADH is converted
back to NAD+.

The chemical reaction of alcohol fermentation is the following:

Pyruvic acid + NADH ↔ ethyl alcohol + CO2 + NAD+
The fermentation of pyruvic acid by yeast produces the ethanol found in
alcoholic beverages. If the carbon dioxide produced by the reaction is not released from
the fermentation chamber, for example in beer and sparkling wines, it remains
dissolved in the medium until the pressure is released. Ethanol above 12 percent is
toxic to yeast, so natural levels of alcohol in wine occur at a maximum of 12 percent.

[Link]
Figure 4. Alcohol Fermentation

Explore

Enrichment Activity 1
Create your own illustration to trace the pathway of electrons in the electron
transport system. Include in your illustration the oxygen molecule as the final
acceptor of the electrons. Use arrows to show the pathway of electrons.

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LU_General Biology 1_Module12
Rubric:
5 4-3 0-2
Accurate No inaccuracies A few inaccuracies Many
concepts inaccuracies
Completeness Sufficient concepts Some concepts Limited concepts
Presentation Well-presented Presentation is good Poor presentation

Enrichment Activity 2

Write TRUE if the statement is correct, otherwise, write FALSE.

1. Decarboxylation takes place in alcohol fermentation.
2. Glycolysis does not happen when oxygen is unavailable.
3. The oxygen molecule is associated with Complex IV.
4. FADH2 is associated with Ubiquinone.
5. Oxygen is an electron acceptor in fermentation.

Enrichment Activity 3

Directions: Complete the phrase below to come up with the first statement on
anaerobic respiration. Then add few sentences to present a good concept on what
happens if oxygen is not available in cells.

If no oxygen is available in cells, ______________________.

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 Deepen

After you learned the role of oxygen in cellular respiration, I know you
acknowledged that without oxygen, there is not enough energy to fuel cellular
processes and life activities. At this point, I want you to design a study place with a
good supply of oxygen. You are to recall the concepts learned in photosynthesis for
this.

Gauge

Directions: Read carefully each item and select the correct answer from the given
choices. Use a separate sheet for your answers. Write only the letter of the best answer
for each test item.

1. Which of the following gasses is needed aerobic respiration?

A. carbon B. carbon dioxide C. nitrogen D. oxygen

2. What gas is a by-product in aerobic respiration?

A. carbon B. carbon dioxide C. nitrogen D. oxygen

3. Which of the following is a function of oxygen in aerobic respiration? Oxygen .

A. fuels the process of glycolysis.
B. is needed to convert pyruvic to acetyl coenzyme A.
C. is the final acceptor in the electron transport chain.
D. is the gas needed to convert NADH to NAD in fermentation.

4. Which of the following is a product of fermentation in animal muscles?

A. O2 B. ethanol C. lactic acid D. FADH2

5. Which of the following processes uses bacteria to produce cheese?

A. fermentation B. electron transport system
C. glycolysis D. Krebs cycle

6. How many molecules of water are formed in one electron transport chain?
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

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 7. In alcohol fermentation, what comes after forming pyruvate?
A. decarboxylation B. ATP formation
C. glycolysis D. chemiosmosis

8. To which complex is FADH2 in electron transport chain is associated with?

A. Complex I B. Complex II C. Complex III D. Complex IV

9. Which part of the mitochondria does binding of oxygen and protons happen?
A. cristae B. intermembrane C. matrix D. membrane

10. Why is regeneration of NAD+ important? Regeneration of NAD+ ________.

A. provides energy to cells.
B. is necessary to generate FADH2.
C. is needed for chemiosmosis to take place.
D. ensures the continuity of cellular respiration

11. Which process forms acetaldehyde?

A. chemiosmosis C. lactic acid fermentation
B. alcohol fermentation D. electron transport system

12. Which of the following is an acceptor in anaerobic respiration?

A. O2 B. SO2−4 C. NADH D. FADH2

13. Anaerobic respiration is best described as the production of pyruvate .

A. in the absence of oxygen
B. in the presence of oxygen
C. using the sun as an energy source
D. in the presence of carbon dioxide and oxygen

14. Which of the following serves as a shuttle of electrons from complex II

A. cytochrome C B. cytochrome C C. isomerase D. Ubiquinone (Q)

15. Which of the following is an electron acceptor in denitrification?

A. NO3 B. SO2−4 C. H2S D.MH4

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LU_General Biology 1_Module12
10
Pre-test
1. D
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. A
Activity 1
Answers vary
Enrichment Activity 2
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
Enrichment Activity 2
Answers vary
Enrichment activity 3
Answers vary
Gauge
1. D
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. A
8. B
9. C
10. D
11. B
12. B
Answer Key
References
Printed Materials:
Belardo, Millete. 2016. General Biology. Philippines: Vibal Publishing House. Faltado,
Ruben, et al. 2017. General Biology 1. Quezon City: Lorimar Publishing,Inc.

Website:
Bartee, Lisa.2016. Metabolism Without Oxygen: Fermentation

[Link]
an-anaerobic-
process/#:~:text=When%20no%20oxygen%20is%20present,NAD%2B%20will%20no
t%20be%20regenerated.

"Electron Transport Chain”. 2020. [Link].

[Link]
transport-
chain/#:~:text=The%20electron%20transport%20chain%20is,is%20reduced%20to
%20form%20water.

“Anaerobic Respiration”. 2020. [Link].

[Link]
respiration/

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Telephone: (072) 607 - 8127
Telefax: (072) 205 - 0046
Email Address:
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LU_General Biology 1_Module12