Oxidative Phosphorylation and Photophosphorylation | Plants

The upcoming discussion will update you about the difference between oxidative phosphorylation and photophosphorylation.

Difference # Oxidative Phosphorylation:

1. It takes place during aerobic respiration (a catabolic process) on cristae in mitochondria.

2. It occurs during terminal oxidation of reduced coenzymes generated in glycolysis and Krebs’ cycle with molecular oxygen.

3. It is independent of light.

4. It is associated with mitochondrial electron transport system and is of only one type.

5. Ultimate source of energy for oxidative phosphorylation is respiratory substrate.

6. It is inhibited by 2, 4—dinitro phenol

7. Energy rich ATP molecules produced by this process are used for driving various metabolical process of the cells.

Difference # Photophosphorylation:

1. It takes place during photosynthesis (an anabolic process) in thylakoids (of grana) in chloroplast.

2. It occurs during cyclic and non-cyclic electron transport in light reaction of photosynthesis. Mo­lecular oxygen is not required.

3. It is dependent on light.

4. It is associated with two pigment systems and elec­tron transport in chloroplasts and is of two types- cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation.

5. Ultimate source of energy for photophosphoryla­tion is light.

6. Non-cyclic photophosphorylation is inhibited by CMU (Chlorophenyl, dimethylurea) and DCMU (dichlorophenyl. dimethyl urea).

7. Energy rich ATP molecules produced by this pro­cess are mainly utilised in dark reaction of photo­synthesis for the synthesis of carbohydrates. These may also be used for other synthetic processes within the chloroplasts.