question_answer 11)

What is oxidative phosphorylation? 

Answer:

The final step of aerobic respiration is the oxidation of 10 molecules of NADH+ H+ and 2 molecules of FADH2 generated from a molecules of a glucose. These are oxidized in the presence of oxygen through respiration chain. In this step, oxygen from the atmosphere is used for the oxidation of reduced co-enzymes and it is called terminal oxidation. This is also associated with ATP synthesis, so also called as oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, the production of ATP with the help of energy liberated during oxidation of reduced co-enzymes and terminal oxidation is called oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation is an endothermic process that occurs on the inner membrane including the cristae of mitochondria (eukaryotes) and inner side to cell membrane or mesosomes (prokaryotes).