The rest of the group agrees with your conclusion that Dr. Tamm was likely exposed to a membrane uncoupling agent. Uncoupling ag
ents allow protons to cross the inner membrane of the mitochondria, down their concentration gradient, without passing through ATP synthase. Consider that each respiring cell has a need for a certain amount of ATP, but in the presence of a membrane uncoupling agent, the proton gradient that is generated by the ETC is being partially dissipated without any ATP being made. How do you think the activity of other metabolic pathways might change in response
The activity of other metabolic pathways also change in response to the proton which enters mitochondria without passing through ATP synthase because ATP synthase is responsible for the production of ATP molecules from proton. If this ATP is not produced no further reactions occurs in the cell. This ATP is used by the cells in various activities so if the proton does not pass through ATP synthase then no energy in the form of ATP is present for other metabolic pathways of the cells.
The point of cellular respiration is to get energy for the cell. ATP is the "energy currency" of the cell that enables it to function at normal levels. In cellular respiration, a process called <u>glycolysis</u> breaks down glucose to obtain large amounts of ATP.
