electron transport Flashcards
why do we breath oxygen?
in eukaryotes, oxygen is the ultimate electron acceptor for electrons passed from NADH and FADH2 into ETC
what is oxidative phosphorylation?
the process where electrons from reduced cofactors NADH and FADH2 are passed to proteins in the respiratory chain and the energy of oxidation is used to phosphorylate ADP
how does photophosphorylation work?
light causes charge separation between a pair of chlorophyll molecules and energy of the oxidized and reduced chlorophyll molecules is used to drive synthesis of ATP. uses water as electron source and uses NADP+ as ultimate electron acceptor.
how does chemiosmotic theory explain the formation of ATP despite its unfavorable thermodynamics
phosphorylation of ADP is not a result of a direct reaction between ADP and some high energy phosphate carrier (such is the case in glycolysis) but instead the energy needed to phosphorylate ADP is provided by the flow of protons down the electrochemical gradient. this gradient is created by electron transport energy release
what features of membranes allow the proton gradient to be established and used to make ATP?
membrane is impermeable to ions (H+), includes plasma membrane in bacteria, inner mitochondrial membrane, and thylakoid membrane in chloroplasts.
membrane must contain proteins that couple downhill electron flow with uphill proton flow
membrane must contain a protein that couple downhill proton flow to ADP phosphorylation
where is the proton gradient located in mitochondria and chloroplasts?
mitochondria: high [H] outside inner membrane
chloroplast: high [H] inside thylakoid membrane
structure of mitochondria
outer membrane: porous membrane allows passage of metabolites
inter membrane space: similar to cytosol, high [H] and lower pH
inner membrane: impermeable with proton gradient. location of ETC. has convolutions called cristae to increase surface area
matrix: location of CAC and parts of lipid and amino acid metabolism. lower [H] and higher pH
each electron transport complex contains redox centers consisting of
FMN or FAD (flavin cofactors carry electrons one at a time)
cytochromes a, b, or c
iron sulfur cluster
what are cytochromes?
one electron carries capable of reduction by 1 electron and then oxidation by 1 electron (Fe3+ -> Fe2+). consists of iron coordinating porphoryin ring derivatives the types (a, b, c) differ by ring additions and have different reduction potentials
what are iron sulfur centers?
one electron carriers. consists of coordinated cysteine and contains equal number iron and sulfur atoms (greater number of irons/sulfurs doesn’t change how many electrons can carry, still just one electron)
what is coenzyme Q (ubiquinone)
a lipid soluble conjugated dicarbonyl compound that readily accepts electrons. functions as a mobile electron carrier transporting electrons from complexes I and II to couples III
what does ubiquinone become upon accepting electrons?
it accepts two electrons and then picks up two protons to give an alcohol called ubiquinol. Ubiquinol can freely diffuse in the membrane and carry electrons from one side of membrane to another
structure of ubiquinone, ubiquinol, and semiquinone
slide 14
probably not the most important thing, but recognize structures just in case
Complex I
NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase
one of the largest macro-molecular assemblies in mammalian cell, over 40 diff polypeptide chains encoded by both nuclear and mitochondrial genes
noncovalently bound FMN accepts two electrons from NADH
several iron-sulfur centers pass one electron at a time toward the ubiquinone binding site
slide 19
what is the net reaction/result of complex I?
transfer of two electrons from NADH to ubiquinone, accompanied by transfer of protons from matrix to intermembrane space. 4 protons are transported per one NADH. 2 protons are picked up by coenzyme Q. total of 6 protons removed from matrix
how are protons transported across membrane?
through proton wires. a series of amino acids that undergo protonation and deprotonation to get a net transfer of a proton from one side of a membrane to another
complex II
succinate dehydrogenase
FAD accepts two electrons from succinate (forms fumarate)
electrons are passed one at a time via iron-sulfur centers to ubiquinone, which becomes ubiquinol
no proton transfer occurs
((same enzyme as in CAC))
slide 22
complex III
ubiquinone:cytochrome c oxidoreductase
uses 2 electrons from ubiquionol to reduce 2 molecules of cytochrome c
contains iron-sulfur clusters, cytochrome b and c
Q cycle results in 4 additional protons transported to inter membrane space
slide 23
describe the Q cycle
4 protons are transported across membrane per 2 electrons that reach cytochrome c. 2 protons come from QH2. the Q cycle explains the other 2 protons
2 molecules of QH2 become oxidized, releasing the 4 protons. Then one molecule becomes rereduced, thus a net transfer of 4 protons per reduced Q
slide 26
complex IV
cytochrome oxidase
contains two heme groups and copper ions. CuA: two ions that accept electrons from Cyt c. CuB: bonded to heme forming a binuclear center that transfers four electrons to oxygen
4 electrons are used to reduce one oxygen molecule into two water molecules. 4 protons are picked up from the matrix and 4 additional protons are passed from the matrix to the intermembrane space
slide 29
what is a respirasome?
the associated complexes of ETC. they are gathered close together to decrease traveling distance
draw the simplified summary of electron flow in the respiratory chain. account for proton gradient flow and electron transporters from NADH to water
slide 31
what is the net result of electron transport from both complex I and complex II?
complex I: 2NADH + 22H+(N) + O2 –> 2NAD+ + 20H+(P) + 2H2O
complex II: 2FADH2 + 12H+(N) + O2 –> 2FAD + 12H+(P) + H2O
can be simplified by dividing by two so uses 1/2O2
complex II moves less protons than complex I
it is possible to generate reactive oxygen radicals during electron transport. how are these radicals dealt with?
the radical is converted to hydrogen peroxide via superoxide dismutase. H2O2 converts to H20 via glutathione peroxidase, converting GSH to GSSG in the process. the GSSG converts back to GSH by glutathione reductase and the use of NADPH which is restored by using NADH. the expense of this process is one NADH
