Solved: Biochemistry II Assignment A recently discovered bacterium carries out

Question

Biochemistry II Assignment A recently discovered bacterium carries out ATP synthesis coupled to the flow of electrons through a chain of carriers to some electron acceptor. The components of the electron transport chain differ from those found in mitochondria. They are listed below with their standard reduction potentials. Oxidant NAD* Reductant NADH e transferred E° (V) 2 -0.32 flavoprotein b (FPb) (oxidized) cytochrome c (Fe3+) flavoprotein b (FPb) (reduced) cytochrome c (Fe²+) 2 -0.62 1 +0.22 Fe-S protein (oxidized) Fe-S protein (reduced) 2 +0.89 flavoprotein a (FP₂) (reduced) 2 +0.77 flavoprotein a (FPa) (oxidized) a. Place the carriers in the order in which they are most likely to act in carrying electrons and create a diagram to show how the electrons flow through the chain. Indicate which of each pair is the reduced form, and which is the oxidized form. b. What is the AGº for the transfer of electrons through the entire chain? Theoretically, how many ATP could be produced by the flow of a pair of electrons through this chain? c. Is it likely that O2 (E" =+0.82 V) is the final e acceptor in this organism? Why or why not? d. Explain how (experimentally) you would determine if the mechanism of ATP production by this e* transport system is similar to that used by the electron transport chain of mitochondria.