Chapter 18- Oxidative Phosphorylation Flashcards
(135 cards)
What is the purpose of oxidative phosphorylation?
There is a large disparity between the amount of ATP molecules we have and the amount of ATP we need. Each ATP molecule is recycled 300 times per day, and oxidative phosphorylation is the process that accomplishes this recycling.
Electron transport chain/respiratory chain
4 large protein complexes embedded in the mitochondrial membrane. This is where the flow of electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen takes place.
What is the energy released by the electron transport chain used for?
Three of the complexes of the ETC use the energy released by the electron flow to pump protons out of the mitochondrial matrix. The unequal distribution of protons creates a pH gradient and a transmembrane electrical potential that will eventually be essential for the synthesis of ATP.
Proton-motive force
A force created by the unequal distribution of protons from the ETC. Protons flow back to the mitochondrial matrix through an enzyme complex to synthesize ATP.
Which molecules are used in oxidative phosphorylation?
ADP is phosphorylated, and uses one proton (H+) to produce ATP and water
The oxidation of fuels and the phosphorylation of ADP are coupled by
A proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane
Cellular respiration
The generation of high transfer potential electrons by the citric acid cycle. their flow through the respiratory chain, and the accompanying synthesis of ATP. Uses an inorganic compound (like oxygen) to serve as an oxygen acceptor, and an organic or inorganic compound as an oxygen donor.
Which two processes are referred to an cellular respiration collectively?
Oxidative phosphorylation and the citric acid cycle
Where does the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis occur?
Mitochondria
Where does the citric acid cycle occur?
Mitochondrial matrix
2 compartments in the mitochondria
- Intermembrane space between the outer and inner membranes
2. Matrix- bounded by the inner membrane
Cristae
The inner membrane of the mitochondria is folded into ridges called cristae. The cristae increase the surface area in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which creates more sites for oxidative phosphorylation
Outer membrane of the mitochondria
Very permeable to most small molecules and ions, since it contains a protein called mitochondrial porin (VDAC)
Mitochondrial porin (VDAC)
This the most prevalent protein in the outer mitochondrial membrane. It plays a role in the regulated flux of anionic species like phosphate. chloride, and adenine nucleotides across the outer membrane.
Inner mitochondrial membrane permeability
Impermeable to nearly all ions and polar molecules. A family of transporters shuttles metabolites like ATP, pyruvate, and citrate across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
2 faces of the inner mitochondrial membrane
- Matrix side/N side- negatively charged
2. Cytoplasmic side/P side- positively charged and freely accessible to most small molecules in the cytoplasm
Mitochondria endosymbiotic relationship
Mitochondria live in an endosymbiotic relationship with the host cell. They contain their own DNA, which codes for proteins. However, the mitochondria contains many proteins encoded by nuclear DNA. Cells that contain mitochondria depend on the organelles for oxidative phosphorylation, and the mitochondria depend on the cell for their existence.
How many base pairs does human mitochondria have?
16,569 base pairs. It encodes 13 respiratory chain proteins as well as small and large ribosomal RNAs and enough tRNAs to translate all codons.
How did the endosymbiotic event of mitochondria occur?
It’s thought to have occurred when a free living organism capable of oxidative phosphorylation was engulfed by another cell. Sequence data suggest that all mitochondria are descendants of an ancestor of Rickettsia prowazekii, which was engulfed by another cell
Which features of the mitochondria suggest an endosymbiotic event?
The double membrane, circular DNA, and mitochondrial specific transcription and translation machinery.
Which organism does the evidence of an endosymbiotic event come from?
It comes from examination of the most bacteria-like mitochondrial genome- from the protozoan Reclinomonas americana. The genome of R. americana encodes less than 2% of the protein-encoding genes of E. coli. That means that 2% of bacterial genes are found in all mitochondria. This suggests that the mitochondrial genomes became part of the nuclear genome, so the original bacterial cell lost DNA and was incapable of independent living, and the host cell become dependent on the ATP generated by the mitochondria.
Electron transfer potential vs phosphoryl transfer potential
In oxidative phosphorylation, the electron transfer potential of NADH or FADH2 is converted into the phosphoryl transfer potential of ATP.
E0
The reduction potential E0, or redox potential, is the measure of a molecule’s tendency to donate or accept electrons. A strong reducing agent readily donates electrons and has a negative E0, while a strong oxidizing agent readily accepts electrons and has a positive E0.
What do the n and f mean in the standard free energy change?
n is the number of electrons transferred and F is the Faraday constant.