Oxidative Phosphorylation

Oxidative phosphorylation is the process by which ATP is formed by the transfer of electrons from NADH or FADH2 to O2 by a series of electron carriers. This process occurs in the mitochondria and is the main source of ATP in aerobic organisms.

Oxidative phosphorylation is the culmination of a series of energy transformations collectively referred to as cellular respiration or simply respiration.

Two byproducts in the aerobic formation of ATP are CO2 (carbon dioxide) and H2O (water).

Text adapted from:
Berg, J., Tymoczko, J. and Stryer, L. Biochemistry. 5th edition. New York: W H Freeman; 2002. Chapter 18, Oxidative Phosphorylation. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK21208/ [Accessed 6 October 2021].