Question

The proton conductor CCCP (carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone) transports protons across lipid bilayers. What is the effect adding CCCP to a suspension of respiring mitochondria on the consumption of oxygen and ATP synthesis? Justify your conclusion

Answer 1

The proton gradient which is build up during mitochondrial electron transport chain and drives the coupling of ADP and pi And makes ATP ,is affected when CCCP is added because it will transport the protons across the lipid bilayer and the protein gradient which has been created by electron transport will be nullified and thus no coupling will be happended and thus ATP will not be produced.

And thus oxygen consumption will be increased because ATP is not produced and that's why cell will try to make more NADH OR FADH2 AND WHICH WILL TRANSPORT ELECTRONS AND WILL MAKE MORE ATP.( THOUGH ATP WILL NOT BE PRODUCED).