What happens if there is a block in the flow of protons through ATP synthase?

Question

anonymous · Answer

My book says glycolysis will continue but krebs wont..why is that?

blues · Answer

Your book is right.

Glycolysis functions in anaerobic pathways as well as aerobic respiration, but the TCA cycle functions only in aerobic respiration. So effectively shutting down ATP synthase shuts down the TCA cycle.

anonymous · Answer

oh yea, so many ADPs will be accumulate in the ETC, so krebs cant continue to function?
but glycolysis can continue with a 2ATP net gain?

blues · Answer

Yes, glycolysis makes a couple ATPs and its products will be fed into fermentation.

The TCA won't function because most of the enzymes in it are under substrate level control - not much difference in energies between the products and the reactants - and it's intermediates will just sort of back up.

anonymous · Answer

ohh ok ty blues :) @blues < new function, can tag people i guess :)

blues · Answer

Yup. That's the pinging feature: when you @cmkc109 you get notified.