Q
QuestionBiochemistry

How does substrate-level phosphorylation differ from oxidative phosphorylation?
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Answer

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Step 1
: Substrate-level phosphorylation is a process that occurs during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, where a phosphate group is directly transferred from an organic molecule to an adenosine diphosphate (ADP) molecule, resulting in the formation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

This process does not involve the electron transport chain or oxygen.

Step 2
: On the other hand, oxidative phosphorylation is a process that occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane, where the energy released by the electron transport chain is used to pump protons across the membrane, creating a proton gradient.

The flow of protons back across the membrane drives the synthesis of ATP by ATP synthase. This process requires oxygen as the final electron acceptor.

Final Answer

Substrate-level phosphorylation occurs during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle and directly transfers a phosphate group from an organic molecule to ADP, while oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane, uses the energy released by the electron transport chain to pump protons across the membrane, creating a proton gradient, and requires oxygen as the final electron acceptor.