Oxidative Phosphorylation

Question 1

where does oxidative phosphorylation occur?

Answer 1

mitochondrial cristae

Question 2

what do the stages involve?

Answer 2

• the electron transfer chain
• movement of protons across cristae
• catalysed by ATP synthase

Question 3

role of electrons

Answer 3

• H+ split into protons and electrons
• e- passed along electron transfer proteins
• releases energy at each protein

Question 4

role of protons

Answer 4

• energy released by e- used to actively transport protons into the intermembrane space from the matrix
• creates an electrochemical gradient
• protons move down conc. gradient by f.diffusion through ATP synthase
• catalyses phosphorylation of ADP to ATP

Question 5

role of oxygen

Answer 5

• picks up e- at the end of transfer chain and protons released by ATP synthase creating water
• important to allow protons to move via ATP synthase and catalyse the resynthesis of ATP