The proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane were heated to 60 degrees Celsius. What will happen to
cellular respiration? Can the body still produce ATP? Explain.
If the temperature were to increase drastically, the proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane would
denature and unfold, rendering them useless. For example, in cellular respiration, oxidative phosphorylation
involves the transportations of electrons across the membrane through NADH Dehydrogenase, creating an
electrochemical gradient, eventually taking electrons to the final electron acceptor, oxygen. This process leads
to the production of water and eventually, through ATP synthase, more ATP. If the proteins were to denature,
this process would not occur efficiently since it involves proteins that are embedded in the inner membrane of
the mitochondria.
A patient has a disease, causing them to produce an excess of an inhibitor binds that bind to ATP Synthase.
What are some symptoms associated with this disease? Explain using details of the process of cellular
respiration.
ATP synthase is a step occurring in chemiosmosis, in which the H+ gradient created in the electron transport
chain, allows for the protons to pass through a protein (ATP synthase), phosphorylating ADP to create more
ATP. If the ATP synthase were damaged and no protons were able to flow through it, there would be a buildup
of H+ ions at the intermembrane space and the phosphorylation of ADP would not occur, and no ATP would be
formed. Since this step produces the most ATP out of all the steps in cellular respiration, it would be dangerous
since there would not be the required energy in the body.
Oxaloacetate is not regenerated because of a genetic mutation. Can cellular respiration still occur? Explain why
or why not. To what extent can the body still generate the required energy for survival.
Oxaloacetate is the last molecule involved in the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle uses the pyruvate when it is
turned into acetyl CoA in pyruvate oxidation and oxidizes it in multiple steps so that ATP, CO2, NADH, and
water are produced. Oxaloacetate, a 4-carbon molecule, is the last and first step in the Krebs cycle since it is
used to get the reaction started by reacting with acetyl CoA to form citrate, and it is used to keep the cycle
going. Since the Krebs cycle occurs twice to account for each of the 2 acetyl CoA molecules (for 2 pyruvates).
If oxaloacetate is not regenerated after being used once, the Krebs cycle cannot continue since it needs to it to
produce the NADH, ATP, CO2. If the necessary NADH is not produced, it would affect oxidative
phosphorylation which relies on NADH and FADH2 in transporting electrons and creating the electrochemical
gradient, failing to create more ATP in chemiosmosis.
Oxygen was no longer able to accept electrons in the ETC from the cytochrome complex? Justify why aerobic
respiration cannot occur even though both glycolysis and Krebs Cycle does not involve oxygen directly as a
substrate. How will the body produce ATP in this situation?
In oxidative phosphorylation, NADH and FADH2 transport electrons along the mitochondrial membrane. They
then donate these electrons to enzymes on the electron transport chain. The last electron acceptor is oxygen
since it is the most electronegative. It also collects uses of the H+ ions to create water (H2O). These H+ ions then
create an electrochemical gradient. If oxygen stopped accepting electrons from the ETC, NADH and FADH2
would be unable to oxidize to NAD+ and FAD+, and can no longer drop off electrons and H+ ions in the ETC. If
NADH and FADH2 cannot be oxidize, the Krebs Cycle cannot occur since NAD+ and FAD+ needs to return to
the Krebs Cycle for the cycle to continue. However, glycolysis will still occur under anaerobic conditions. The
body still can produce ATP through glycolysis. However, since only 2 ATP during glycolysis, it may not be
sufficient to sustain life.
cellular respiration? Can the body still produce ATP? Explain.
If the temperature were to increase drastically, the proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane would
denature and unfold, rendering them useless. For example, in cellular respiration, oxidative phosphorylation
involves the transportations of electrons across the membrane through NADH Dehydrogenase, creating an
electrochemical gradient, eventually taking electrons to the final electron acceptor, oxygen. This process leads
to the production of water and eventually, through ATP synthase, more ATP. If the proteins were to denature,
this process would not occur efficiently since it involves proteins that are embedded in the inner membrane of
the mitochondria.
A patient has a disease, causing them to produce an excess of an inhibitor binds that bind to ATP Synthase.
What are some symptoms associated with this disease? Explain using details of the process of cellular
respiration.
ATP synthase is a step occurring in chemiosmosis, in which the H+ gradient created in the electron transport
chain, allows for the protons to pass through a protein (ATP synthase), phosphorylating ADP to create more
ATP. If the ATP synthase were damaged and no protons were able to flow through it, there would be a buildup
of H+ ions at the intermembrane space and the phosphorylation of ADP would not occur, and no ATP would be
formed. Since this step produces the most ATP out of all the steps in cellular respiration, it would be dangerous
since there would not be the required energy in the body.
Oxaloacetate is not regenerated because of a genetic mutation. Can cellular respiration still occur? Explain why
or why not. To what extent can the body still generate the required energy for survival.
Oxaloacetate is the last molecule involved in the Krebs cycle. The Krebs cycle uses the pyruvate when it is
turned into acetyl CoA in pyruvate oxidation and oxidizes it in multiple steps so that ATP, CO2, NADH, and
water are produced. Oxaloacetate, a 4-carbon molecule, is the last and first step in the Krebs cycle since it is
used to get the reaction started by reacting with acetyl CoA to form citrate, and it is used to keep the cycle
going. Since the Krebs cycle occurs twice to account for each of the 2 acetyl CoA molecules (for 2 pyruvates).
If oxaloacetate is not regenerated after being used once, the Krebs cycle cannot continue since it needs to it to
produce the NADH, ATP, CO2. If the necessary NADH is not produced, it would affect oxidative
phosphorylation which relies on NADH and FADH2 in transporting electrons and creating the electrochemical
gradient, failing to create more ATP in chemiosmosis.
Oxygen was no longer able to accept electrons in the ETC from the cytochrome complex? Justify why aerobic
respiration cannot occur even though both glycolysis and Krebs Cycle does not involve oxygen directly as a
substrate. How will the body produce ATP in this situation?
In oxidative phosphorylation, NADH and FADH2 transport electrons along the mitochondrial membrane. They
then donate these electrons to enzymes on the electron transport chain. The last electron acceptor is oxygen
since it is the most electronegative. It also collects uses of the H+ ions to create water (H2O). These H+ ions then
create an electrochemical gradient. If oxygen stopped accepting electrons from the ETC, NADH and FADH2
would be unable to oxidize to NAD+ and FAD+, and can no longer drop off electrons and H+ ions in the ETC. If
NADH and FADH2 cannot be oxidize, the Krebs Cycle cannot occur since NAD+ and FAD+ needs to return to
the Krebs Cycle for the cycle to continue. However, glycolysis will still occur under anaerobic conditions. The
body still can produce ATP through glycolysis. However, since only 2 ATP during glycolysis, it may not be
sufficient to sustain life.
