What is produced during oxidative phosphorylation?

During oxidative phosphorylation, ATP and water are the primary products generated in the final stages of cellular respiration. This process takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane and involves the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.

In detail, electrons derived from NADH and FADH2, which are generated earlier in cellular respiration, are transferred through a series of protein complexes within the electron transport chain. As these electrons are passed along, they create a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This gradient powers ATP synthase, the enzyme responsible for synthesizing ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.

Simultaneously, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor, combining with the electrons and protons to form water. This coupling of electron transfer and ATP synthesis is what characterizes oxidative phosphorylation, thus leading to the production of both ATP and water as key end products.