Synonyms
Definition
At cell level, respiration is the process in which biological systems oxidize different substrates, where the oxidizing agent is a substance that is external to the system itself. Historically, the term has been used when the substance which is the external electron acceptor is oxygen (aerobic respiration). However, this definition should be widened to include the cases where the external electron acceptor is a substance other than oxygen (anaerobic respiration).
Overview
Respiration is a common way for living organisms to obtain energy. The process is a source of oxidation for various cellular components, such as NADH, succinate, acyl-CoA, etc., which are produced either by the catabolism of substances taken from the exterior or directly from a component taken from the exterior, such as methanol (this is the case for Paracoccus denitrificans, which can grow on methanol) or Fe2+ (in the case of Acidithiobacillus...
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Montero, F. (2015). Respiration. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1367
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1367
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