Cyanide Resistant Respiration

Cyanide resistant respiration is the ability of certain organisms to continue respiration even in the presence of cyanide, a potent inhibitor of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. This process is essential for survival in environments where cyanide is present, such as in soils contaminated with industrial waste or in certain plant tissues.

Plants

Many plants have developed cyanide-resistant respiration as a defense mechanism against herbivores. For example, the roots of some plants, such as cassava and sorghum, contain cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide upon tissue damage. These plants have evolved to have cyanide-resistant mitochondria in their roots to prevent the toxic effects of cyanide on respiration.

Protozoans

Some protozoans, such as Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, have also developed cyanide-resistant respiration. This adaptation allows the parasite to survive in the bloodstream of the host, where cyanide is present due to the breakdown of hemoglobin.

Unicellular Organisms

Cyanide-resistant respiration is also observed in many unicellular organisms, such as bacteria and yeast. This adaptation allows these microbes to survive in environments where cyanide is present, such as in industrial waste or in soils contaminated with cyanide.

All of these?

In conclusion, cyanide-resistant respiration occurs in plants, protozoans, and unicellular organisms as an adaptation to survive in environments where cyanide is present. This process is essential for the survival of these organisms and allows them to continue respiration even in the presence of a potent inhibitor of the electron transport chain.

Cyanide resistant respiration is found in plants so , the answer is (a) Plants.
It can be explained as the plant mitochondria differ from an animal mitochondria in having an alternate oxidase system pathway through which terminal oxidation of reduced co-enzyme continues even in the presence of cyanide . This type of respiration is known as Cyanide resistant respiration or Cyanide insensitive respiration. Whereas in animals there is the Cyanide sensitive respiration.