AP Biology 3.5 Cellular Respiration
Practise AP Biology 3.5 questions by connecting mitochondrial structure and electron transport with ATP production, oxygen use and fermentation.
- Syllabus
- Effective Fall 2025
- Course
- AP Biology
Exam points
- locate respiration stages in the mitochondrial matrix and inner membrane
- trace glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, Krebs cycle and electron carriers to ATP production
- distinguish aerobic respiration from fermentation when oxygen is limited
- interpret respirometer, oxygen-consumption or inhibitor data to predict respiration and ATP output
Covered syllabus points
3.5 Cellular Respiration question 1
[Maximum number: 3]
Researchers hypothesize that the plant compound resveratrol improves mitochondrial function. To test this hypothesis, researchers dissolve resveratrol in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The solution readily passes through cell membranes. They add the resveratrol solution to mammalian muscle cells growing in a nutrient-rich solution (culture medium) that contains glucose. They measure ATP production at several time points after the addition of the resveratrol solution and find an increase in ATP production by the muscle cells.
Question (a)
(a)
Describe the primary advantage for a mammalian muscle cell in using aerobic respiration over fermentation.
[ 1 ]
- More ATP (per glucose molecule) is produced by aerobic respiration.
Question (b)
(b)
Predict the effect on short-term ATP production when resveratrol-treated mammalian muscle cells are grown in a culture medium that lacks glucose or other sugars.
[ 1 ]
1 point muscle cells are grown in a culture medium that lacks glucose or other sugars.
Accept one of the following:
- No ATP production
- Reduced ATP production
Question (c)
(c)
The researchers find that resveratrol stimulates the production of components of the electron transport chain. The researchers claim that treatment with resveratrol will also increase oxygen consumption by the cells if glucose is not limiting. Justify the claim.
Write your responses to this question only on the designated pages in the separate Free Response booklet.
[ 1 ]
1 point electron transport chain. The researchers claim that treatment with resveratrol will also increase oxygen consumption by the cells if glucose is not limiting. Justify the claim. increase oxygen consumption by the cells if glucose is not limiting. Justify the claim.
- More electrons can be transferred so that more oxygen is required as the final electron acceptor.
3.5 Cellular Respiration question 2
[Maximum number: 3]
To investigate how increases in environmental temperatures affect the metabolism of certain organisms, researchers incubated liver cells from toads at different temperatures and measured two markers of metabolic activity (Table 1): the rate of oxygen consumption and the rate of ATP synthesis.
Question (a)
(a)
Based on the data in Table 1, calculate the average amount of oxygen consumed, in nmol, for 10 mg of mitochondrial protein after 10 minutes at 25°C.
[ 1 ]
Based on the data in Table 1, calculate the average amount of oxygen consumed, in nmol, for 10 mg of mitochondrial protein after 10 minutes at 25°C.
1,650 [ 16.5nmol/min/mg×10mg×10 min ]
1 point
Total for part (c)
2 points
Question (b)
(b)
Oligomycin is a compound that can block the channel protein function of ATP synthase. Predict the effects of using oligomycin on the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
[ 1 ]
Accept one of the following:
- The difference in the concentration of protons/pH (across the inner mitochondrial
membrane) will increase.
- There will be an increase in the concentration of protons/a decrease in pH in the
intermembrane space relative to that found within the mitochondrial matrix.
1 point
Question (c)
(c)
Justify your prediction.
Write your responses to this question only on the designated pages in the separate Free Response booklet.
If there are multiple parts to this question, write the part letter with your response.
[ 1 ]
Justify your prediction.
Accept one of the following:
- (Without protons being able to flow back into the matrix through ATP synthase), more protons will accumulate in the intermembrane space/between the two mitochondrial
membranes.
- (Without protons being able to flow back into the matrix through ATP synthase), there will be a lower pH in the intermembrane space/between the two mitochondrial
- Protons will not be able to flow across the membrane (through ATP synthase), but the electron transport chain will still pump protons into the intermembrane space.
1 point
Total for part (d)
for question 2
9 points
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