Anaerobic Respiration: Understanding Oxygen-Independent Energy Production

Definition

Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) generates ATP without oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. It occurs in microorganisms (yeast, bacteria) and transiently in human muscle during intense exercise.

Major Pathways

Steps in Lactic Acid Fermentation (Human Muscle)

1. Glycolysis: Glucose → 2 pyruvate + 2 ATP + 2 NADH.
2. Lactate dehydrogenase: Pyruvate + NADH → Lactate + NAD⁺ (regenerates NAD⁺ for glycolysis to continue).

Key Points

• Much less efficient than aerobic respiration (~30–32 ATP/glucose).
• Lactate accumulation lowers pH, contributing to muscle fatigue.
• Lactate is later cleared via Cori cycle (liver gluconeogenesis) or oxidized in heart/slow-twitch fibers.

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Organism / Tissue	Pathway	End Products	ATP Yield (per glucose)
Yeast, plants	Alcoholic fermentation	Ethanol + CO₂	2 ATP
Human muscle, some bacteria	Lactic acid fermentation	Lactate (lactic acid)	2 ATP
Other bacteria	Mixed acid, butyric, propionic fermentation	Various organic acids, gases	2 ATP