Electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation I Flashcards
What is the final step in non-photosynthetic energy conversion pathways?
Oxidative phosphorylation
What can be inferred about the mitochondrial content of meat if it is darker?
Higher mitochondrial content
What can be inferred about the mitochondrial content of meat if it is lighter?
Lower mitochondrial content
In the chemiosmotic theory, what is the energy generated by redox reactions used to generate?
A proton gradient
What two kinds of difference does a proton gradient create?
Chemical potential energy difference and an electrical potential energy difference?
Across which membrane are the differences generated by proton gradients present?
Inner mitochondrial membrane
What is the general flow of the protons in the proton gradient?
Pumped out of matrix, then diffuses back in via ATP synthase channels
How does the proton circuit behave like an electrical curcuit?
Electrical circuit = H+, battery = ETC system, capacitor = H+ gradient and resistor = ATP synthase
What can happen to the ETC, causing ATP synthase to cease?
The redox energy can be uncoupled form the ATP synthase channels
How is the ETC uncoupled from the ATP synthase channels?
The H+ diffuse back into the mitochondrial membrane via an uncoupler protein instead of the ATP synthase channel
What is the purpose of the uncoupler proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane?
The energy generated by the ETC is converted into heat instead of ATP
What do blockers do in the ATP synthase channel?
Prevent any H+ from diffusing back into the mitochondrial matrix
Why are blockers used in the inner mitochondrial membrane?
deltapH and deltaWaterPotential across the inner mitochondrial membrane both increase, eventually leading to cell death
What is useful about using uncoupler proteins to generate heat?
They generate a large amount of heat in a small time–> newborn mammals can use it
