Which statement accurately describes oxidative phosphorylation?

Which statement accurately describes oxidative phosphorylation?

• A. It uses glycolysis enzymes to generate ATP in the cytosol.
• B. It yields most of the ATP by using a proton gradient to drive ATP synthase.
• C. It occurs in the nucleus.
• D. It does not involve the electron transport chain.

Answer: (B)

Oxidative phosphorylation is the part of cellular respiration where energy from electrons is used to pump protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient. This gradient then drives ATP synthase to convert ADP and inorganic phosphate into ATP as protons flow back through the enzyme. This is the stage that produces the majority of cellular ATP. The electron transport chain is essential for building the gradient, glycolysis happens in the cytosol and yields a smaller amount of ATP, and the process occurs in mitochondria, not the nucleus. So the best description is that most ATP is produced by using a proton gradient to drive ATP synthase.

Oxidative phosphorylation is the part of cellular respiration where energy from electrons is used to pump protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient. This gradient then drives ATP synthase to convert ADP and inorganic phosphate into ATP as protons flow back through the enzyme. This is the stage that produces the majority of cellular ATP. The electron transport chain is essential for building the gradient, glycolysis happens in the cytosol and yields a smaller amount of ATP, and the process occurs in mitochondria, not the nucleus. So the best description is that most ATP is produced by using a proton gradient to drive ATP synthase.