Oxidative phosphorylation

Oxidative phosphorylation couples electron transfer to ATP production by using a membrane proton gradient to power ATP synthase. In eukaryotes, it occurs across the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Electron transport chain: A series of membrane-associated carriers that transfer electrons through oxidation–reduction reactions. Its complexes use electron transfers to pump protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Mitochondrion: A membrane-bound organelle that produces much of the ATP used by eukaryotic cells. Its inner membrane houses the respiratory chain and ATP synthase.
Cellular respiration: The set of metabolic pathways that extract energy from nutrients and conserve it in ATP. Oxidative phosphorylation is the major ATP-producing stage of aerobic cellular respiration.
Substrate-level phosphorylation: ATP formation by direct transfer of a phosphate group from a metabolic intermediate to ADP. Unlike oxidative phosphorylation, it does not use a membrane proton gradient.
Chemiosmosis: The movement of ions down an electrochemical gradient through a membrane protein. Proton flow back across the membrane couples the gradient to ATP production.
Inner mitochondrial membrane: The highly selective inner membrane that encloses the mitochondrial matrix. Its impermeability to protons allows a usable gradient to form.
ATP yield: The amount of ATP produced from a defined substrate or metabolic pathway. Its yield depends on electron carriers, proton pumping, and the efficiency of coupling.
Photophosphorylation: ATP synthesis powered by light-driven electron transport in photosynthetic membranes. It uses chemiosmotic coupling but draws energy from light rather than nutrient oxidation.
ATP synthase: A membrane enzyme that synthesizes ATP using energy from proton flow. This rotary enzyme converts the proton-motive force into ATP.
Redox reaction: A chemical reaction involving transfer of electrons between substances. Electron transfers release energy that respiratory complexes harness for proton pumping.

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