Question

Question 4 Describe, preferably in diagram form, how the electron transport chain generates ATP via the process of oxidative phosphorylation. Account for the production of ATP during electron transport according to the chemiosmotic theory. Include sites of inhibition for oligomycin, thermogenin, and cyanide. (10 marks)

Answer 1

Oxidative phosphorylation is a process of electrons transferr from electron donors to electron acceptors. These redox reactions results in generation of ATP. In eukaryotes, the redox reactions are held by a series of protein complexes located in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. These linked sets of proteins are called electron transport chains (ETC). There are five main protein complexes involved in energy release due to electrons flowing through this ETC. To in turn is used to transport protons across the mitochondrial inner membrane, also referred as electron transport. This results in potential energy generation in the form of a pH gradient and an electrical potential across the membrane. The protons flow back across the membrane and down the potential energy gradient, through a large enzyme called ATP synthase; this process is known as chemiosmosis. The ATP synthase works to transform adenosine diphosphate (ADP) into adenosine triphosphate via phosphorylation reaction.

Find the illustration below.

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