Talk:Oxidative phosphorylation

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1) Diagram or illustration of transmembrane and free electron carrier molecules (Complexes I, II, III, IV, and V).

  a) Coenzyme Q (Ubiquinone)
  b) cytochromes; heme prosthetics groups
  c) Iron-Sulfur proteins (including Rieske iron-sulfur proteins)

2) Discuss the proton gradient in terms of chemiosmotic theory.

  a) Charge Seperation
  b) pH differences between the intermembrane spaces and the matrix.

3) Breif review of redox reactions and reduction potential (or link to article discussing redox reactions).
4) Discussion on the importance of respiration to the introduction of oxygen as a final electron acceptor.
5) Discuss the Q Cycle
6) Census of electrons versus protons. (ie. two electrons release versus four protons released)
7) Discussion on the rotational catalysis mechanism of ATP synthase.

  a) Currently the article makes it sound as though protons can flow in either direction across the ATP synthase complex.
  b) Discuss various subunits to protein.
  c) Discuss the Binding-Change model.

--Mike Filbin 23:53, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

• Is the role of aerobic conditions (ie oxygen) mentioned in this article? It is not clear from the article why this process is unable to continue in anaerobic conditions. Perhaps the article would benefit from reference to Electron transport chain, using that content in the context of oxidative phosphorylation.

• Inconsistency among articles. This article states that the equivalent production of ATP molecules along the glycolysis -> citric acid cycle -> oxidative phosphorylation is 30 ATP, whereas the article on the Citric acid cycle cites 36 ATP.

-- CoeurDeLion

The intro bio text I am looking at reports 30 ATP. I don't have a reason to doubt it. Citric acid cycle may be incorrect. --DrNixon 04:39, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

The total number of ATPs is 38. 2(glycoysis) + 30(NADH at the Krebs circle) + 4(FADH2 at the Krebs circle) + 2(GTP at the Krebs circle) = 38 ATP per glucose molecule. However, sometimes it can be 36, depending of the transport of the NADH to the mitochondrion. --62.57.165.71 21:34, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

It should always be 36 max. If you use 38 there is an assumption that the glycolytic NADH can suddenly be inside the mitochondira. This is always wrong. The text books are wrong. And of course since ATP, phosphate and pyruvate all require energy (using the proton gradient) to get in and out of the mitochondria 36 is wrong too. But if we just consider a snap shot of making ATP in the mitochondria 36 is the most correct for the theorectical maximum. David D. (Talk) 22:08, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] First paragraph

The first paragraph contains this sentence: "This generates a pH gradient and a transmembrane electrical potential across the membrane." Would it be less confusing (and perhaps more correct) to call it a H⁺ gradient instead? -- Jasabella 12:48, 18 September 2006 (UTC)