THE EFFECTS OF METABOLIC TOXINS ON THE PROCESS OF

CELLULAR RESPIRATION

Maria Rissa A. Hinautan

BSED-Bio.Sci. I
 ABSTRACT

History: Cellular respiration is the set of metabolic reactions and processes that take place in the
cells of organisms to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into Adenosine Triphosphate
(ATP), and then release waste products. It is the process of oxidizing food molecules, like
glucose, to carbon dioxide and water. The energy released is trapped in the form of ATP for use
by all the energy-consuming activities of the cell. The process occurs in two phases: glycolysis,
the breakdown of glucose to pyruvic acid. We all need energy to function and we get this energy
from the foods we eat. The most efficient way for cells to harvest energy stored in food is
through cellular respiration, a catabolic pathway for the production of Adenosine
Triphosphate (ATP). ATP, a high energy molecule, is expended by working cells. Cellular
respiration occurs in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. There are three main stages of
cellular respiration: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and electron transport/oxidative
phosphorylation. Metabolic toxins are toxins that are produced inside of your body. Some of
these toxins are waste products from normal metabolic activities – carbon dioxide, urea, and
lactic acid. If this metabolic toxin does not eliminated in the body it can cause diseases such as
Ammonia in Urea Cycle Disorder (UCD) it is the result of genetic mutations causing defects in
the metabolism of the extra nitrogen produced by the breakdown of protein and other nitrogen-
containing molecules. Severe deficiency or total absence of activity of any first four enzymes
(CPSI, OTC, ASS, ALS) in the urea cycle or cofactor producer (NAGS) results in the
accumulation of ammonia and other precursor metabolites during cellular respiration process.
Conclusion: Cellular respiration is a vital part of our everyday world. Cellular respiration is used
to make ATP, which is used for many different things. ATP is used for chemical, mechanical,
and electrochemical cell work. Along with that, ATP is used in endergonic reactions and also
used to run cells. Without ATP energy, no cell would be able to function well. It also needed to
be eliminated the metabolic toxins to the body that can cause severe diseases.
 INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND
Cellular respiration is the process in the cell by which the chemical energy within the
glucose molecule is released by breaking the bonds between its atoms. In contrast to a car
engine, which uses a spark and molecular oxygen to quickly release the energy within gasoline to
produce a small explosion, cellular respiration uses molecular oxygen and a series of specific
enzymes to release the energy from within the glucose molecule in a much more controlled
fashion. During this chemical reaction one glucose molecule (C6H12O6) reacts with six oxygen
molecules (6 O2) to release the energy the cell needs, while at the same time producing six
carbon dioxide molecules (6 CO2) and six water molecules (6 H2O) Glicksman, H. (2015).

According to Rachel, S. (2015) energy is the driving force of any work. Every cellular
activity depends upon energy, and the food is the source of energy. In cells, cellular respiration is
the pathway of yielding energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Both eukaryotic
and prokaryotic cells undergo cellular respiration, depending upon the oxygen demand. They are
two types of cellular respiration: the aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Metabolic toxins (or body toxins) are normal by-products of your metabolism occurring
throughout the mind and body. Organic chemist Ludwig Brieger defined a toxin as a poisonous
substance produced within living cells or organisms. This excluded manufactured substances
(chemical) created by artificial processes. Metabolic toxins are toxins that are produced inside of
your body. Some of these toxins are waste products from normal metabolic activities – carbon
dioxide, urea, and lactic acid. If this metabolic toxin does not eliminate in the body it can cause
diseases. Metabolic toxins can result from any dysfunctional metabolic pathway such as excess
ammonia produced in the urea cycle to a variety of toxins produced by an overgrowth of
normally healthy intestinal flora.

Cellular respiration is a vital part of our everyday world. Cellular respiration is used to
make ATP, which is used for many different things. ATP is used for chemical, mechanical, and
electrochemical cell work. Along with that, ATP is used in endergonic reactions and also used to
run cells. Without ATP energy, no cell would be able to function. Humans, animals, plants, and
much more would die without energy to run cells, and therefore our highly structured world
would quickly cease to exist. And if the metabolic toxins will not eliminated to your body it may
cause severe diseases or unfortunately leads to death
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Cellular Respiration, process in which cells produce the energy they need to survive. In
cellular respiration, cells use oxygen to break down the sugar glucose and store its energy in
molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Cellular respiration is critical for the survival of
most organisms because the energy in glucose cannot be used by cells until it is stored in ATP.
Cells use ATP to power virtually all of their activities—to grow, divide, replace worn out cell
parts, and execute many other tasks. There are two types of respiration: aerobic respiration and
anaerobic respiration.

According to Rachel, S. (2015) energy is the driving force of any work. Every cellular
activity depends upon energy, and the food is the source of energy. In cells, cellular respiration is
the pathway of yielding energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Both eukaryotic
and prokaryotic cells undergo cellular respiration, depending upon the oxygen demand. They are
two types of cellular respiration: the aerobic and anaerobic respiration.

Aerobic respiration is the burning or oxidation of glucose in the presence of oxygen to

release energy (ATP). The whole process of aerobic respiration takes place in three steps:
glycolysis, Krebs’ cycle and electron transport system. Sites of respiration are cytoplasm and
mitochondria.
 Glycolysis: Glycolysis is the lysis or splitting of sugars. During glycolysis, one molecule of
6-carbon compound glucose is broken down into two molecules of 3-carbon pyruvic acid.
This occurs in cytoplasm either in the presence or in the absence of oxygen. Totally, at the
end, we get two pyruvic acid molecules, two ATP molecules and two NADH electron
carrying molecules.
 Krebs’ cycle: Also known as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and the citric acid
cycle. The pyruvic acid formed are transferred to the matrix of mitochondria and converted
into acetyl CoA. After a series of stages, two molecules of ATP are produced. Also, two
compounds- nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and flavin adenine
dinucleotide (FAD) are produced. They help to carry electrons for next step.
 Electron Transport System and Oxidative Phosphorylation: ETS directly depends on oxygen.
Here through a chain of electron carriers such as NADH high-energy electrons are passed on
which develops an electron gradient. Eventually, by oxidative phosphorylation ATPase
convert ADP to ATP.

Anaerobic respiration is a type of cellular respiration where respiration takes place in the
absence of oxygen. The process is also called fermentation. They will not enter into tricarboxylic
acid cycle (TCA cycle) or ETS. Here partial glycolysis results in pyruvic acid. Pyruvic acid
undergoes further reduction and gives carbon dioxide and ethanol along with ATP. This is
known as alcoholic fermentation. During anaerobic conditions, inside animal muscle cells,
fermentation takes place and produces lactic acid and ATP. This is lactic acid fermentation. The
total sum of ATP molecules produced during fermentation is very less as compared to aerobic
respiration.
 All cells, whether part of the human body, plant life or even bacteria, must use cellular
respiration to produce the energy they need to live. Cells use enzymes to create usable energy out
of glucose. Cells can either break down glucose through aerobic respiration, which uses oxygen,
or anaerobic respiration, which does not. While aerobic respiration is more efficient, human
muscle cells can switch to anaerobic respiration when they lack a sufficient oxygen supply.

Function
Anaerobic respiration occurs most often in humans during vigorous exercise. When
muscle cells use up their oxygen, they have to switch to an anaerobic pathway to process energy.
According to Dr. Paul Decelle’s online biology course, anaerobic respiration in humans
occurs most often in fast-twitch muscle cells, which have a lower capacity for storing oxygen
than slow-twitch muscles. The fast-twitch muscle cells run out of oxygen quickly and have to
switch to a lactic acid fermentation process to create energy. Humans use their fast-twitch
muscle cells during vigorous exercise, particularly running.

Glycolysis
According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, glycolysis, the most basic form of
metabolism found in all living things, is also the first step in both the aerobic and anaerobic
respiration processes. Glycolysis uses enzymes to break down glucose into other types of
molecules, releasing energy in the process.

Fermentation
In aerobic respiration, oxygen helps enzymes metabolize energy through the glycolysis
process, so according to the Royal Society of Chemistry, in anaerobic respiration, the cells have
to use fermentation to keep the metabolism going. In anaerobic respiration, fermentation
produces the enzymes that are necessary for cell operation, but it also creates a waste byproduct.
In plants and yeast, this byproduct is ethanol, but in humans, the byproduct is called lactic acid.

Byproducts
The cells cannot use the ethanol and lactic acid byproducts and therefore have to get rid
of them. In humans, this means lactic acid is excreted through the muscle fibers and processed by
the liver. The lactic acid can build up in muscle fibers, however, causing side effects of
anaerobic respiration.

Effects
Anaerobic respiration is a less-efficient form of cellular respiration than aerobic
respiration, and according to the Royal Society of Chemistry, fermentation only produces about
10 percent of the energy that the cells can create with oxygen. Therefore, anaerobic respiration
only gives human muscles little bursts of energy, leading to muscle fatigue and cramping. Lactic
acid buildup stiffens up the muscle fibers and contributes to muscle cramping. Graybeal, L.
(2013).

The first step in cellular respiration is glycolysis. Glycolysis involves the initial
breakdown of glucose to pyruvate (or pyruvic acid), water, and reduced electron carriers (in this
case NADH). Ingested carbohydrates are first broken down by your saliva, and then by enzymes
in your stomach. Glucose, from your food, is then taken into your cells, and during glycolysis is
split into two 3-carbon molecules of pyruvate. Glucose is not the only sugar used by your body;
other sugars are either converted to glucose or introduced at other points in the glycolytic
pathway. Likewise, fats and proteins can be used as energy sources. These foods are catabolized
and the metabolic breakdown products enter the cellular respiratory pathway at various points.
We will begin with glucose because it makes use of all the metabolic steps, and hence illustrates
the complete process of cellular respiration.
Glycolysis is initiated by the addition of a phosphate (P), from ATP, to a molecule of
glucose; this destabilizes the glucose molecule and the bonds are then easily broken to release
energy. So while there is a net gain of ATP in cellular respiration, some ATP is used to start the
process. One of the products of the initial breakdown of glucose is pyruvate. Pyruvate is further
modified and enters the next stages of cellular respiration (the Krebs cycle and the electron
transport chain). It is at these stages that most of the ATP is produced for cellular work. Probably
because of its connection to the production of chemical energy, pyruvate has become a very
popular nutritional supplement among dieters and body builders. The merits of pyruvate are
greatly disputed.
Glycolysis generates ATP without using oxygen as an electron acceptor. Restated,
glycolysis can occur whether oxygen is present or not and whether conditions are aerobic or
anaerobic. Pyruvate has two general fates: it can be further oxidized (in which case, more energy
is obtained) or it can be further reduced (and discarded as waste). The process by which glucose
is partially broken down and NAD+ is regenerated is fermentation. The many types of
fermentation differ in the waste products that are formed when pyruvate is broken down.
Fermentation can occur in the presence or absence of oxygen. Many bacteria only carry out
fermentation in the absence of oxygen, whereas yeast will ferment in the presence or absence of
oxygen. Two common types of fermentation are alcohol fermentation and lactic acid
fermentation. In alcohol fermentation, pyruvate gives off carbon dioxide and is converted to
ethyl alcohol (ethanol) in a two-step process. In lactic acid fermentation, pyruvate is converted to
lactate (lactic acid). Lactic acid fermentation is used to make cheese and yogurt. Alcohol
fermentation is used to make beer and wine. Schaeffer, S.W. (2009).

Glycolysis and fermentation are processes of converting complex molecule or substance

into simpler form for easy absorption or usage. Both converts sugars or carbohydrates into useful
form but differs in a way that fermentation uses yeast or bacteria in the process of conversion.
Glycolysis is known as “sweet splitting process” because it denotes conversion of sugars which
is sweet to tongue. It involves transforming six carbon sugars into three carbon sugars. Release
of energy, termed as adenosine triphosphate to adenosine diphosphate, takes place during
conversion. The process of glycolysis can take place with or without the presence of oxygen.
Glycolysis is divided into aerobic glycolysis and anaerobic glycolysis. Anaerobic glycolysis is
known earlier than the aerobic glycolysis because earlier in time, about 3.5 billion years ago,
availability of oxygen is not yet known. Today, since the availability of oxygen is already
discovered, aerobic glycolysis is more used. Glycolysis and fermentation both produce ATP.
Meaning, both produce and supply energy to the body cells, plant cells, etc. Glycolysis involves
a number of chemical reactions at the same time some exceptional enzymes to aid in the
chemical reactions. This process lead to yielding a sum of two pyruvic acid molecules, two ATP
molecules, two NADH molecules, as well as two molecules of water. The nutrients gained from
this process are used not only as fuels but also as building blocks of the cells.
Fermentation starts with the process of glycolysis. It makes use of pyruvic acid. The products of
pyruvic acid are transformed into “waste products” and zero energy is gained. During
fermentation, no energy is already produced. Fermentation usually happens naturally; it rarely or
more occasionally happens anaerobically. The two most known types of fermentation are alcohol
fermentation which includes acetone and methanol fermentation, and lactic acid fermentation.

Fermentation of lactic acid happens with the presence of bacteria such as the
Lactobacillus acidophilus and fungi. Yogurt is made through the process of lactic acid
fermentation. The human muscles also do lactic acid fermentation. Normally, our muscles will
need to do cellular respiration by itself. Oxygen from the blood and lungs, sometimes, can’t
reach the muscles directly because of some shortage and more organs require it than the muscles.
So, the muscles will do cellular respiration without the presence of oxygen. The three molecules
of pyruvic acid are bowed into lactic acid. Lactic acid is not used by our muscle that is why it is
transported into the body for excretion. When it reaches the liver, the liver makes use of it.
Anaerobic respiration is also done by the muscles whenever the person is anemic. Due to RBC
shortage, the blood is not able to carry the necessary amount of oxygen needed by the body. That
is why the muscle compensates to provide itself with the energy it needs. Anemic person is likely
to experience muscle aches and stiffness. The end product of lactic acid fermentation in the
muscles causes it to sore and feel stiff. Lactic acid fermentation in yogurt happens in the
presence of fungi and sometimes bacteria. Lactic acid is the cause of the sour taste of yogurts.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study aims to know what are the possible effect of metabolic toxins (e.g carbon
dioxide and lactic acid) on the process of cellular respiration.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will serve as a reference to those students who conduct the same research in
the future. In understanding cellular respiration is fundamental to any experimental design we
do. Because specific pathways exist for each step of respiration, they provide numerous
opportunities to study metabolism. For example, if we want to see how changing the availability
of a nutrient affects the growth of an organism, or it's output of a potentially useful metabolic
product, we need to know where in the process of respiration that nutrient becomes involved, as
well as each effect it has further down the line. Knowing how respiration occurs allows for you
to understand how everything on this planet lives, and gives us clues about how life coexists. It
has allowed scientists who research how life evolved to trace back and link different organisms
together based on genetic similarities in metabolism.

HYPOTHESIS

Null Hypothesis:

Alternative Hypothesis:

OBJECTIVES

General Objectives:

To determine what are the different effects of metabolic toxins on the process of
cellular respiration.

Specific Objectives:

1. To determine the different stages of cellular respiration.

2. To determine the different metabolic toxins that can affect the process of cellular
respiration.
3. To determine how can avoid the diseases that metabolic toxins do on the process
of cellular respiration.
REFERENCES

1. Glicksman, H. (March 2015). “Take a Deep Breath: Cell Respiration”

2. Rachel, S. (Dec. 2015). “Cellular Respiration: Aerobic vs. Anaerobic”
3. Graybeal, L. (Aug. 2013) “What is Anaerobic Respiration in Humans?”
4. Schaeffer, S.W. (Jun. 2009) “Cellular Respiration (Glycolysis)”
5. Golden (Dec. 2011) “Difference Between Glycolysis and Fermentation”