41. Oxygen is critical for aerobic respiration. Explain its role with respect to ETS.
Role of O2 in Aerobic Respiration The respiration of glucosestarts with glycolysis in cytoplasm, followed by in Krebs’ cycle and finally Electron Transport Chain (ETC) in inner mitochondrial membrane. The requirementof O2 is at the end of ETC.
Where, it acts as final hydrogen acceptor. O2 is responsible for removing electrons from the system. If oxygen is not available, electrons could not be passed through the co-enzymes, inturn proton pump will not be established and ATP will not be produced via oxidative phosphorylation. Thus Oxygen play a critical role in aerobic respiration in mitochondrial matrix.
