what does it mean to say “collapse the H+ gradient”
Electron Transport Chain
The electron transport chain, also known as the electron transport system, is a group of proteins that transfer electrons through a membrane within mitochondria to create a gradient of protons that drives adenosine triphosphate (ATP)synthesis. The cell uses ATP as an energy source for metabolic processes and cellular functions. ETC involves series of reactions that convert redox energy from NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) + hydrogen (H)) and FADH2(flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)) oxidation into proton-motive force(PMF), which is then used to synthesize ATP through conformational changes in the ATP synthase complex, a process known as oxidative phosphorylation.
Metabolism
Picture a campfire. It keeps the body warm on a cold night and provides light. To ensure that the fire keeps burning, fuel needs to be added(pieces of wood in this case). When a small piece is added, the fire burns bright for a bit and then dies down unless more wood is added. But, if too many pieces are placed at a time, the fire escalates and burns for a longer time, without actually burning away all the pieces that have been added. Many of them, especially the larger chunks or damp pieces, remain unburnt.
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is the cellular process involved in the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules from the organic nutritional source obtained from the diet. It is a universal process observed in all types of life forms. The glucose (chemical formula C6H12O6) molecules are the preferred raw material for cell respiration as it possesses a simple structure and is highly efficient in nature.
Cyanide is an inhibitor of Complex IV of the electron transport chain, i.e., it inhibits the reduction of oxygen to water. Dinitrophenol is a drug that collapses the H+ gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
You are given 2 bottles labeled “A” and “B”. One of them has cyanide and the other has dinitrophenol. You are tasked with identifying which of A or B is cyanide and which one is dinitrophenol.
You are provided with the following items:
- A suspension of live, functioning mitochondria
- A pH-sensitive dye that can permeate both mitochondrial membranes (inner and outer and is red at low pH and blue at high pH.
First, what does it mean to say “collapse the H+ gradient”?
Make a flow-chart to show how you would do an experiment with the items provided to identify which bottle is cyanide and which is dinitrophenol.
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