Definition
Oxidative phosphorylation is a metabolic pathway that uses energy released by the oxidation of nutrients to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy carrier in cells.
Etymology
The term originates from the combination of "oxidative," referring to the process of oxidation, and "phosphorylation," which denotes the addition of a phosphate group to a molecule.
Example usage
'Oxidative phosphorylation is crucial for the production of ATP in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells.'
Interesting fact
During oxidative phosphorylation, the mitochondria in a single human cell can produce roughly 10 million ATP molecules per second.
Source: Alberts, B. et al. (2014). Molecular Biology of the Cell. Garland Science.
Explanation and detail
The Process
Oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouse of the cell. It involves two main components: the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.
Electron Transport Chain
This chain is a series of protein complexes located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Electrons are transferred through these complexes, releasing energy at each step. This energy is used to pump protons across the membrane, creating a proton gradient.
Chemiosmosis
The proton gradient created by the electron transport chain drives the synthesis of ATP. Protons flow back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase, a protein that uses the energy from this flow to convert adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate into ATP.
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