Chapter 18- Oxidative Phosphorylation Flashcards
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.
How is redox potential measured?
A experiment is conducted where a sample half cell is connected through an agar bridge to a standard reference half cell. Electrons flow through the wire connecting the cells, while ions flow through the agar bridge. Electrons flow from the sample half cell to the standard reference half cell. The reduction potential of the X (oxidant) is the observed voltage at the start of the experiment.
What does it mean for a molecule to have a positive or negative reduction potential?
A strong reducing agent (like NADH) is poised to donate electrons and has a negative reduction potential, while a strong oxidizing agent (like oxygen) is ready to accept electrons and has a positive reduction potential.
What is the driving force of oxidative phosphorylation?
The electron transfer potential of NADH or FADH2 relative to that of oxygen. The energy released by the reduction of oxygen with NADH2 is initially used to generate a proton gradient that is then used for the synthesis of ATP and the transport of metabolites across the mitochondrial membrane.
Free energy value
ΔG° can be calculated to have a value of −220.1 kJ mol−1 (−52.6 kcal mol−1)
3 protein complexes embedded in the mitochondrial membrane
- NADH-Q oxidoreductase (complex 1)
- Q-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (complex 3)
- Cytochrome c oxidase (complex 4)
Function of the protein complexes in the mitochondrial membrane?
Electrons are transferred from NADH to oxygen through the chain of protein complexes. Electron flow within the complexes releases a lot of energy and powers the transport of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Succinate Q-reductase
A fourth large protein complex (complex 2) that contains the succinate dehydrogenase that generates FADH2 in the citric acid cycle. In contrast with the other complexes, this complex does not pump electrons
Where do the electrons from succinate Q-reductase go next?
Electrons from this FADH2 enter the electron transport chain at Q-cytochrome c oxidoreductase.
Complexes 1, 3, and 4 are associated in
A supramolecular complex which facilitates the rapid transfer of substrate and prevents the release of reaction intermediates.
Electron carriers that bring electrons from one complex to the next (2)
- Coenzyme Q
2. Cytochrome c oxidase
Coenzyme Q (ubiquinone) function
An electron carrier that is a hydrophobic quinone. It diffuses rapidly within the inner mitochondrial membrane. Electrons are carried from NADH-Q oxidoreductase to Q cytochrome c oxidoreductase (complex 3) by the reduced form of Q. Electrons from the FADH2 generated by the citric acid cycle are transferred first to coenzyme Q and then to complex 3
Coenzyme Q structure
Coenzyme Q is a quinone derivative with a long tail consisting of 5 carbon isoprene units that account for its hydrophobic nature. The number of isoprene units in the tail depends on the species. The most common form in mammals contains 10 isoprene units
Oxidation states of coenzyme Q
Quinones can exist in several oxidation states. In the fully oxidized state (Q), coenzyme Q has two keto groups. The addition of one electron and one proton results in the semiquinone form. For quinones, electron transfer reactions are coupled to proton binding and release. This property is key to transmembrane proton transport.
Semiquinone
The addition of one electron and one proton results in a semiquinone. The semiquinone can lose a proton to form a semiquinone radical anion (Q-).
Ubiquinol
Formed by the addition of a second electron and proton to the semiquinone. Ubiquinol has the formula (QH2), and is the full reduced form of coenzyme Q, which holds its protons more tightly.
Q pool
Because ubiquinone is soluble in the membrane, a pool of Q and QH2 (the Q pool) is thought to exist in the inner mitochondrial membrane, although it may be confined to the protein complexes of the electron transport chain.
Cytochrome C electron carrier
A small soluble protein that shuttles electrons from complex 3 to complex 4. In general, cytochromes are electron-transferring proteins that contain a heme prosthetic group. The heme iron cycles
between Fe2+ and Fe3+ as it accepts or donates electrons
Iron-sulfur proteins
Also called nonheme iron proteins- prominent electron carriers. These proteins contain various types of iron–sulfur clusters. Like cytochromes, the iron cycles between Fe2+ and Fe3+ as it accepts or donates electrons
Frataxin
Frataxin is a small mitochondrial protein that is crucial for the synthesis of Fe-S clusters. Deficiency in frataxin results in Friedreich’s ataxia, which affects the nervous system as well as the heart and skeletal systems. The most common mutation is trinucleotide expansion
Where do the electrons of NADH enter the respiratory chain?
At NADH-Q oxidoreductase (aka complex 1).
Structure of complex 1/NADH dehydrogenase
This is a large enzyme that acts as a proton pump. It is encoded by genes residing in both the mitochondria and the nucleus. Complex 1 is L shaped, with a horizontal arm lying in the membrane and a vertical arm that projects into the matrix.
After electrons from NADH enter the chain, what happens? (3)
- The electrons from NADH are passed along to Q to form QH2 by Complex I.
- QH2 leaves the enzyme for the Q pool in the hydrophobic interior of the inner mitochondrial membrane
- Four protons are simultaneously pumped out of the mitochondrial matrix by Complex I.
Electron carriers between NADH and Q
The electron carriers between NADH and Q include flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and several iron–sulfur proteins.
Where does FADH2 enter the electron transport chain?
At the second protein complex
When is FADH2 formed?
In the citric acid cycle, in the oxidation of succinate to fumarate by succinate dehydrogenase. Succinate dehydrogenase is part of complex 2, and FADH2 doesn’t leave the complex. Its electrons are transferred to Fe-S centers and then to Q to form QH2, which is used to move electrons further down the electron transport chain.
Succinate-Q reductase complex (Complex II)
Complex 2, in contrast with NADH-Q oxidoreductase, does not pump protons from one side of the membrane to the other. This means that less ATP is formed from the oxidation of FADH2 than from NADH.
What happens to the ubiquinol generated by complexes 1 and 2?
The electrons from QH2 are passed on to cytochrome c by complex 3. The flow of a pair of electrons through this complex leads to the effective net transport of 2 hydrogen to the intermembrane space. This is half the yield obtained with NADH-Q reductase because of a smaller thermodynamic driving force.
Cytochrome
An electron transferring protein that contains a heme prosthetic group.
Cytochromes in complex 3 (2)
- b
2. C1
Rieske center
In addition to the hemes, cytochromes contain an iron-sulfur protein with a 2Fe-2S center. This is unusual because one of the iron ions is coordinated by two histidine residues rather than two cysteine residues. This coordination stabilizes the center in its reduced form, raising its reduction potential so that it can readily accept electrons from QH2.