Chapter 12, Problem 12.107EP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

To identify the two locations in a mitochondrion where the protons are found that are involved in the proton gradient.

Concept introduction:

Coupled reactions are the pair of biochemical reactions that occur simultaneously in a system and the energy released by one reaction is utilized by another reaction to occur. Oxidative phosphorylation and oxidation reaction of the electron transport chain is an example of a coupled system.

Oxidative phosphorylation is the biochemical process for the synthesis of ATP from ADP and ${\text{P}}_{\text{i}}$. The energy required for the synthesis is transferred from the electron transport chain.

Electron transport chain is a sequence of biochemical reactions in which electrons and hydrogen atoms from the citric acid cycle are transferred to various intermediate carriers and finally reacts with molecular oxygen to form a water molecule.