Mitochondria carrying out oxidative phosphorylation consume oxygen. a) What happens to oxygen in mitochondria? b) Describe the effect of an uncoupling agent such as 2,4-dinitrophenol on the rate of oxygen consumption. Assume there is a sufficient supply of oxidizable substrate, ADP, and Pi. c) It was observed that if a mitochondrial ATP synthesis inhibitor “compound X” is added to the cell, the NAD+/NADH ratio decreases. Would you expect compound X to be an uncoupling agent or an inhibitor of respiratory electron transfer? Explain briefly.
