Monday 2 May 2011

Professional I Exam 2 May 2011 (Part 3)

Biochemistry: Oxidative phosphorylation

Describe oxidative phosphorylation (10 minutes).

Guide to answering this question:
  1. Which compartment? Mitochondria
  2. What is it about? It involves the production of ATP in the mitochondria under aerobic conditions, with the simultaneous formation of water from oxygen and hydrogen. 
  3. What are the necessary conditions? Aerobic
  4. How does it happen/What are the reactions? Coupled reactions for the formation of ATP & water
  5. What are the sources/feeders? For the hydrogens, it involves electrons passed down the electron transport chain (ETC) by reducing equivalents (NADH & FADH2) which enter the ETC to give their electrons.
  6. What are the products? ATP and water
  7. What is the purpose of this? Oxidative phosphorylation is the final stage of complete biological oxidation for the production of ATP. Water is the waste product, also cools down all the heat that comes from electrons passing through ETC.
Some relevant diagrams:








0 comments: