The oxidative phosphorylation mechanism is a critical biochemical process that generates ATP, the energy currency of the cell, through the transfer of electrons along the electron transport chain and the coupling of proton gradients across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This process occurs in two main stages: the electron transport chain, where electrons derived from NADH and FADH₂ are transferred to oxygen, and chemiosmosis, where ATP synthase utilizes the resulting proton gradient to synthesize ATP. This mechanism is intricately linked with the citric acid cycle, which provides the reduced cofactors that fuel electron transport.
congrats on reading the definition of oxidative phosphorylation mechanism. now let's actually learn it.