Question

What is the mechanism of hypoxia in the electron transport chain? It stops because there's no terminal electron acceptor so the IV complex become stuck with an electron? There's no other molecule that can accept electrons just like the oxygen?

A) Accumulation of electrons in the IV complex
B) Lack of terminal electron acceptor
C) Inhibition of ATP synthase
D) Stalling of complex I
E) Reduced activity of complex III

Answer 1

Hypoxia in the electron transport chain is caused by a lack of oxygen, which is the only effective terminal electron acceptor. This lack of oxygen leads to an accumulation of electrons in Complex IV and halts ATP production by inhibiting ATP synthase.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mechanism of hypoxia in the electron transport chain is primarily due to the lack of oxygen as a terminal electron acceptor. This causes an accumulation of electrons in Complex IV, also known as cytochrome c oxidase, leading to a halt in electron transport.

Since oxygen is the only molecule that can effectively act as the final electron acceptor to form water, no other molecule can fulfill this role in the electron transport chain.

Consequently, the lack of oxygen prevents the pumping of protons across the membrane needed for chemiosmotic generation of ATP, and inhibits ATP synthase from producing ATP, thus affecting cellular energy production.