Step 4: Electron Transport Chain & Chemiosmosis Cellular Respiration Step 4: Electron Transport Chain & Chemiosmosis

Recall... C6H12O6 + O2 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + 36 ATP So far, in stages 1-3 (Glycolysis, Pyruvate Oxidation, and the Krebs Cycle) we have: - broken down C6H12O6 - produced 6 CO2 - produced 4 (net) ATP - produced 10 NADH - produced 2 FADH2 These coenzymes will now go to Stage 4 to transfer energy to ATP

Stage and Location 1. Glycolysis: in the cytoplasm 2. Pyruvate Oxidation: in the mitochondrial matrix 3. Krebs Cycle: in the mitochondrial matrix 4. ETC & Chemiosmosis: within the inner mitochondrial membrane

Step 4: Electron Transport Chain & Chemiosmosis Occurs in the cristae (the folds of the inner mitochondrial membrane) Folds allow for more surface area NADH and FADH2 will transfer their hydrogen atom electrons

Electron Transport Chain (ETC) A series of compounds (mostly proteins) within the inner mitochondrial membrane. They are arranged in order of increasing electronegativity with the weakest at the beginning of the chain. NADH cytochrome Dehydrogenase oxidase WEAKEST ATTRACTOR STRONGEST ATTRACTOR OF ELECTRONS OF ELECTRONS Increasing electronegativity

Protein complex Coenzyme is oxidized FADH2 transfers its electrons to Q – not NADH dehydrogenase

Through a series of redox reactions, 2 electrons from each NADH and FADH2 molecule get passed from compound to compound in the ETC chain always moving to the more electronegative compound So each component is reduced, and then oxidized. During the process energy is released (as the e― moves to more stable compounds)

Some of that energy is lost as heat The rest of the energy is used to move protons (H+ ions) from the matrix into the intermembrane space The H+ move through proton pumps that are in the 3 membrane associated proteins The last e― acceptor is oxygen (which is very electronegative ) from the matrix

Oxygen combines with the electrons and hydrogen ions to make water ½ (O2) + 2 e― + 2 H+ H2O From the matrix from the ETC from the matrix Oxygen combines with the electrons and hydrogen ions to make water (The reaction is catalyzed by the last protein complex – cytochrome oxidaze)

The 2 NADH made in glycolysis in the cytoplasm cannot enter the matrix A “shuttle” will take its electrons and transfer it to a FAD to produce FADH2 This is the glycerol-phosphate shuttle

The electron transport process is highly exothermic Some of the energy was used to pump H+ into the intermembrane space This energy is now stored in the electrochemical gradient of the inner mitochondrial membrane It will be used to synthesize ATP in CHEMIOSMOSIS

Chemiosmosis During ETC, H+ accumulated in the intermembrane space This creates an electrochemical gradient which creates a potential difference across the inner mitochondrial membrane The energy stored in the gradient produces a proton-motive force (PMF) Note: chemiosmosis is a misnomer according to today’s definition of osmosis

The H+ can’t move back into the matrix on their own (the membrane is impermeable to protons). They must pass through a proton channel called ATP synthase (also called ATPase) As the H+ move through ATPase, the energy from the electrochemical gradient drives the synthesis of ATP from ADP and a free phosphate group This is oxidative phosphorylation because the energy used to drive ATP synthesis came from the redox reactions of the ETC!

10 NADH: 2 glycolysis 2 FADH2 = 4 ATP 2 pyruvate oxidation = 6 ATP Each NADH will make 3 ATP Each FADH2 will make 2 ATP Remember... We made: 10 NADH: 2 glycolysis 2 FADH2 = 4 ATP 2 pyruvate oxidation = 6 ATP 6 Krebs Cycle = 18 ATP 2 FADH2: 2 Krebs = 4 ATP Chemiosmosis Total: 32 ATP 2 ATP + 2 ATP + 32 ATP = 36 ATP from glycolysis from Krebs from chemiosmosis

The continual production of ATP requires maintenance of H+ reservoir H+ reservoir requires movement of e― through ETC ETC is dependent of having O2 as the final e― acceptor (oxygen is the only substance in the cell that is electronegative enough to strip electrons from cytochrome oxidase) Without glucose, there would be no electrons in the first place

If there is no O2 then the ETC becomes “clogged” with e― and H+ won’t be pumped into intermembrane space Chemiosmosis will not occur and ATP won’t be made NADH and FADH2 cannot oxidize Therefore, only glycolysis would take place (because NADH and FADH2 are needed for pyruvate oxidation and Krebs)

After they are formed by chemiosmosis, the ATP molecules are transported through both mitochondrial membranes by facilitated diffusion into the cytoplasm Here they are used to drive exothermic processes such as movement, active transport and synthesis reactions throughout the cell

But wait…there’s more?