(Cell Respiration)
This problem will be on your final exam
The graph shows the pH difference across the inner mitochondrial membrane in an active cell..pH difference across the membrane is calculated as the pH in the matrix minus pH in intermembrane space. At the time indicated by the vertical arrow, an organism begins to be deprived of oxygen. What affect does loss of oxygen have on the electron transfer chain and oxidative phosphorylation and how does it change the pH of the mitochondrial matrix and the inner membrane space? Explain this by answering the two questions below.
a. On the graph draw what you would expect to see for the rest of the graphed line.
b. Describe the changes that would occur in the electron transfer chain and oxidative phosphorylation processes when there is no oxygen available.
c. Explain why a person dies if they are deprived of oxygen.
Hint: Remember pH is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration in a solution. The chart below shows the H+ concentration that is associated with a few pH values:
pH
H+ concentration
4
1 X 10-4 moles H+/L H2O
7
1 X 10-7 moles H+/L H2O
8
1 X 10-8 moles H+/L H2O
.jpg” alt=”07_UN14Test_Q8-L”>
