Oxidative Phosphorylation Flashcards
What is oxidative phosphorylation
- The final step in the non-photosynthetic energy conversion pathways
- Overall, the non-photosynthetic energy conversion pathways catabolize carbon-based fuels (carbohydrates and lipids) to reduce O2 and generate H2O and ATP
What proportion of ATP is generated in the different parts of respiration
- Glycolysis and citric acid cycle provide 1/8 of total that can be obtained from glucose oxidation
- 7/8 of ATP that can be obtained from glucose oxidation available when NADH and FADH2 are oxidised by the electron transport
Describe the structure of mitochondria
- Mitochondria contain an inner membrane with a large surface area bounded by an outer membrane.
- Complexes that make ATP are located in inner mitochondrial membrane- ATP synthase complexes
- Cristae
- Dark meat- high mitochondrial content
- White meat- low mitochondrial content
When and who invented the chemiosmotic theory
- 1961
2. Peter Mitchell (and Bob Williams)
What is the chemiosmotic theory
- Describes energy conversion in essentially all organisms
- H+ gradient across mitochondrial IM
- Chemiosmosis: movement of H+ down the concentration gradient from high [H+] to low [H+]
- ATP produced
- Protons are pumped across the inner membrane- into intermembrane space as electrons flow through the respiratory chain
- Producing a Proton gradient
- When protons move back into matrix they drive ATP synthesis
What are the two types of energy produced from chemiosmosis
- Chemical potential energy- Difference in concentration of chemical species- pH difference
- Electrical potential energy- difference in charge
How is chemiosmosis similar to an electrical circuit
- H+ flow – electric current
- Battery – electron transport system
- Capacitor – proton gradient
- Resistor – ATP synthase
What is uncoupling
- Can be uncoupled so ATP synthesis no longer occurs
- Uncoupling causes proton “leakage” and production of heat
- Uncouplers, such as uncoupling proteins or 2,4-dinitrophenol, “short-circuit” the proton flow so that energy is converted to heat rather than to ATP synthesis.
- Uncouplers- energy converted to heat rather than ATP synthesis
What are blockers
- Compounds that block the proton circuit (such as oligomycin) shut down energy conversion processes, leading to cell death.
- Blockers- shut down H+ flow so delta pH and delta potential increase, causing cell death
What are uses of uncoupling proteins
- Hibernating animals rely on uncoupling proteins in brown adipose tissue to provide a mechanism that warms their tissues by using fatty acid degradation to convert chemical energy to thermal energy.
- 2,4-Dinitrophenol has been used as a diet pill because it works in a similar way to stimulate fatty acid degradation in adipose cells.
What were other theories suggested instead of chemiosmotic
- Other theories in 1950-1960s
- Conformational theory
- Chemical theory
Describe the experimental evidence for the chemiosmotic theory
- Experimental evidence for chemiosmotic theory
- Efraim Racker and Walter Stoeckenius, 1973
- Light-activated ATP synthesis in reconstituted vesicles provided compelling evidence that Mitchell’s chemiosmotic hypothesis was correct.
- The vesicles contained an artificial membrane, bacteriorhodopsin from Halobacterium halobium, and ATP synthase complexes from bovine heart mitochondria.
- evidence that an electrochemical H+ gradient can link directly with an electron transport system and provide energy needed for oxidative phosphorylation (ATP synthesis)
What are the proteins involved in the electron transport system
- The four protein complexes of the electron transport system (I–IV), cytochrome c (Cyt c), and the ATP synthase complex (complex V) carry out the process of oxidative phosphorylation.
- Porin proteins provide channels for small molecules to diffuse across the outer membrane of mitochondria.
- Translocase proteins shuttle ATP, ADP, and Pi across the otherwise impermeable inner mitochondrial membrane.
How many protons are moved when 2 electrons enter the electron transport system
- When starting with electrons from NADH that enter through complex I, a total of 10 H+ are translocated by the electron transport system.
- 2 electrons move 10 H+
How many H+ reenter the matrix per ATP produced
- Four H+ reenter the matrix for every ATP that is synthesized
- 3 H+ through the ATP synthase complex
- 1 H+ through the phosphate translocase
What happens in the final step of the electron transport chain
- Complex IV converts oxygen to water in final step
How is ATP generated
- Protons which have been moved to intermembrane space move back through ATP synthase- rotary motion which drives catalysis of ATP
- Inner membrane is impermeable to protons unless uncoupler
What happens to the redox potential of the proteins as you go along the chain
- Redox potential increases as you go along the chain until you get to oxygen
What is a measure of phosphoryl transfer potential
- DG^o’ for hydrolysis of an activated phosphate compound.
What does a biological electron transport involve
- Biological electron transport: series of linked oxidation and reduction reactions (redox reactions).
- Electron donor (the reductant) is oxidised while transferring electrons to an acceptor (the oxidant).
What are the different ways electrons can be transferred from one molecule (donor) to another (acceptor)
- Directly as electrons, e.g.:Fe2+ + Cu2+ Fe3+ + Cu+
- As hydrogen atoms (a proton and a single electron): AH2A + 2e– + 2H+
a) in which AH2 is the hydrogen/electron donor
b) AH2 and A together constitute a redox couple (A/AH2), which can reduce another compound B (or redox couple B/BH2) by transfer of hydrogen atoms:
c) AH2 + B A + BH2 - As a hydride ion (:H–), which comprises a proton and two electrons
- Direct combination with oxygen
Which types of electron transfers are used in oxidative phosphorylation
- Directly as electrons
- As hydrogen atoms
- As hydride ions
What is the redox potential
- Tendency of a redox couple to accept or donate electrons depends on the redox potential