Proteins in Cellular Respiration: 9 Facts You Should Know

In this article we are focusing on the topic “Proteins in Cellular Respiration: 9 Facts You Should Know”, by enlisting the facts and statements supporting the proteins involved in cellular respiration.

Cellular respiration is a combination of metabolic processes which occurs inside the cells where nutrients from food is utilized in combination with oxygen to produce energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules and the waste products are released at the end of the process.

Cellular respiration is a biochemical process happening in a cell which is a set of multiple metabolic steps taking place inside a cell, where the chemical energy from the food is converted into cellular energy and the waste products are released at the end of it.

Types of cellular respiration

proteins in cellular respiration
Cellular Respiration Image from Wikipedia

The cellular respiration is of two types; one that occur in the presence of Oxygen is celled Aerobic cellular respiration and the other that occurs in the absence of oxygen known as anaerobic cellular respiration both occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell but follow different metabolic pathways.

An example of the anaerobic cell respiration process is “Glycolysis” which takes place in the cytosol of cell and Krebs cycle and electron Transport chain are the examples of aerobic cell respiration that takes place in the cell mitochondria.

Use of proteins in cellular respiration

During cellular respiration proteins are broken down into amino acids and then the amino group is removed by deamination from all the amino acids and then converted to ammonia. Ammonia and carbon dioxide are used to produce urea in Liver in all mammals.

The proteins used in respiration are of three types these are, hemoglobin (Hb), hemerythrin, and hemocyanin (Hc).

Are proteins used in cellular respiration?

Yes, proteins are used in cellular respiration and they are broken down into monomers of amino acids which is then converted to pyruvic acid and is converted to acetyl CoA. Acetyl CoA is the precursor of Kreb cycle, both fats and proteins are utilized in the process of cellular respiration.

Where are proteins used in cellular respiration?

Proteins are consumed in food which reaches in the stomach directly. Stomach has an acidic pH and contains enzymes that break down proteins into amino acids using pepsin proteases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, nucleases, carboxypeptidases and many more.

Amino acid chains are transported to small intestine where deamination takes place, nitrogen present in the amino acid is replaced with ammonia. This ammonia is then converted into urea inside liver by the process of Urea cycle.

When proteins are used in cellular respiration?  

Cellular respiration occurs continuously inside a cell cytoplasm, it can be aerobic (with oxygen) as well as anaerobic (without oxygen). Proteins which are synthesized outside the mitochondria as well as inside the mitochondria play a huge role in cellular respiration.

How proteins are used in cellular respiration?  

Proteins taken from food are first broken into amino acids using different enzymes by the cells and some of the amino acids are recycled to produce new proteins to save energy. Reusing amino acids to recycle proteins is much more energy efficient rather than making new proteins.

What protein is essential for cellular respiration?

The most essential protein for respiration is Fast kinase domain-containing protein 3 which is a mitochondrial protein. Proteins, fats and carbohydrates are the free energy substrates which are used in cellular respiration.

Is protein a substrate for cellular respiration?

Yes, proteins, fats and sometimes carbohydrates can be the substrates for cellular respiration. Fats and proteins are used as fuels, glucose is most commonly used as substrates for cellular respiration.

Cellular respiration mainly depends on the proteins which are synthesized in the cytoplasm of the cell and are carried to the mitochondria and on the proteins which are formed in the mitochondria from its own round DNA.

How do proteins enter cellular respiration?

Proteins are taken up in our food and are broken down into amino acids and mostly these amino acids are reused to recycle proteins. During prolonged cell starvation autophagy kicks in which is a process of using amino acids to produce energy via cellular respiration. Amino acids first undergo deamination then they enter into cellular reparation process.

Ammonia is formed after deamination, where NH3 is released as urea in urine in mammals. After deamination multiple amino acids enter in the cellular respiration process at different stages.

Are amino acids used in cellular respiration?

Yes, amino acids are utilized in cellular respiration, different amino acids enter into cellular respiration process at different stages. Glutamate, amino acid contains carboxylic acid side chain is converted into alpha-ketoglutarate which is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle.

How are amino acids used in cellular respiration?

Glutamate, amino acid contains carboxylic acid side chain is converted into alpha-ketoglutarate which is an intermediate in the citric acid cycle. Amino acids are used as intermediates in Glycolysis and Kreb Cycle or citric acid cycle which enter in the cellular respiration process via different pathways.

Where are amino acids used in cellular respiration?

Amino acids enter the cellular respiration process during glycolysis which occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell. Certain amino acids enter as pyruvate which is an intermediate.

Can amino acids be used in anaerobic respiration?  

Very less amino acids are used during the anaerobic respiration. Anaerobic respiration is the conversion of glucose to lactic acid which normally occurs during intense exercise when cells do not have enough oxygen to carry out the aerobic respiration.

The amount of energy released from the anaerobic respiration is very less as compared to aerobic respiration but it happens rapidly.

Glucose (C6H12O6)           ~          Alcohol 2 (C2H5OH) + Carbon dioxide (CO2) + Energy (ATP)

Conclusion

To conclude the article, we can say that proteins in combination with other macromolecules play an important role in cellular respiration, which is a necessary process for a living cell.

Also Read: