[08] Oxidative Phosphorylation Flashcards
What is Oxidative Phosphorylation?
It is the final metabolic pathway of cellular respiration where electrons are transferred from electron donors to electron acceptors in redox reactions, and ATP is synthesized.
Where does Oxidative Phosphorylation occur in the cell?
It occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
What is the electron transport chain (ETC)?
A series of complexes that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors via redox reactions.
What role does the ETC play in Oxidative Phosphorylation?
The ETC creates a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is used to generate ATP.
What is chemiosmosis?
It is the movement of ions across a semipermeable membrane, down their electrochemical gradient.
What role does chemiosmosis play in Oxidative Phosphorylation?
During chemiosmosis, protons move down their gradient and into the mitochondrial matrix, a process that fuels ATP synthesis.
What is ATP synthase?
ATP synthase is an enzyme that creates the energy storage molecule ATP.
What role does ATP synthase play in Oxidative Phosphorylation?
ATP synthase uses the energy from the proton gradient created by the ETC to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.
How many ATP molecules are typically produced during Oxidative Phosphorylation?
Approximately 26-28 ATP molecules are produced from each glucose molecule during Oxidative Phosphorylation.
What happens to the electrons at the end of the ETC?
The electrons combine with molecular oxygen and hydrogen ions to form water.
What is the role of oxygen in Oxidative Phosphorylation?
Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the ETC and is reduced to form water.
What are cytochromes?
Cytochromes are proteins that play a key role in electron transport.
Why is Oxidative Phosphorylation important?
It’s a vital process that produces the majority of ATP during cellular respiration, providing energy for many cellular processes.
What happens if Oxidative Phosphorylation is disrupted?
Disruption can lead to reduced ATP production, which can impair cellular functions and lead to various health conditions.
What is the P/O ratio?
It refers to the amount of ATP (phosphate) generated per oxygen atom reduced in Oxidative Phosphorylation.
