BIOLOGICAL OXIDATION 143, Outer Inner ‘itochondtial sitochondtal "membrane membrane Inter ‘membrane space JP siycorok3 phospho, ean Cytosoie oranda alyoero3P lycerok3-P hydrogen dehydrogenase id) FADHe }— DHAP J etc Figure 10:9: Glycerol shosphate shutte ‘where, DHAP: Dinycroxyacetone phosphate the inner mitochondrial membrane by a membrane bound FAD containing isoenzyme of glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase. + An electron pair from glycerol-3-phosphate is transferred to an FAD of the enzyme to form FADH2, FADH> gels oxidized via ETC to generate 2 ATP. + The dihydroxyacetone phosphate returns to the cytosol and can be reused for reduction of glycerol- 3-phosphate. SUMMARY + Enzymes involved in biological oxidation and reduction are of the class oxidoreductases, which are classified into four groups: Oxidases, dehydro- genases, hydroperoxidases and oxygenases. + Electron transport or respiratory chain is a series of highly organized oxidation-reduction enzymes, co- enzymes and electron carrier proteins; cytochromes in the inner mitochondrial membrane. These are arranged into four complexes in order of increasing, redox potential. + Energy released from the oxidation of carbo- hydrates, fats and proteins is made available in mitochondria as reducing equivalents (H’ or ¢), which are donated to the respiratory chain, which transfers them to molecular oxygen, reducing it to H,0. The energy released in electron transport is, used for the oxidative phosphorylation of ADP to ATP. + According to the chemiosmotic hypothesis, the flow of electrons through complexes I, IIl and IV results in the pumping of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, making the matrix alkaline relative to extramitochondrial space. This proton gradient provides the energy (proton-motive force) for ATP synthesis from ADP and Pi with the help of FoF,ATPase. + Formation of ATP can be inhibited by inhibiting electron transport or by inhibiting oxidative phospho- rylation or by uncoupling oxidative phosphorylation by various compounds. + The electrons of cytoplasmic NADH are transferred into the mitochondria by glycerol phosphate shuttle and malate-aspartate shuttle systems. EXERCISE Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) 1. Alllof the following are true regarding mitochon- drial cytochromes, except: a) They all contain heme groups b) All are bound to protein components ©) Iron must remain in the ferrous state to function. in electron transport ) They accept or donate one electron at a time