Question

Where in a bacterial cell does oxidative phosphorylation occur?

a) Cytoplasm
b) Mitochondria
c) Ribosomes
d) Cell membrane

Answer 1

Oxidative phosphorylation in bacterial cells occurs at the cell membrane instead of mitochondria, which are absent in prokaryotes.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a bacterial cell, oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the cell membrane. Unlike eukaryotic cells which have mitochondria as the site for oxidative phosphorylation, prokaryotic cells like bacteria perform this essential part of cellular respiration directly across their plasma membrane. The processes of the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis that are carried out by the mitochondria in eukaryotes are instead associated with the cell membrane in prokaryotes.