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Multiple Choice
Which biological process is primarily responsible for recharging most of the ATP in a human cell?
A
Photosynthesis
B
Glycogenolysis
C
Oxidative phosphorylation
D
Fermentation
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the role of ATP in the cell. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency of the cell, used to power various biological processes.
Step 2: Review the processes listed in the question. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy, but it does not occur in human cells. Glycogenolysis is the breakdown of glycogen into glucose, which provides substrates for ATP production but does not directly recharge ATP.
Step 3: Understand oxidative phosphorylation. This process occurs in the mitochondria of human cells and is the primary method for recharging ATP. It involves the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis, where energy from electrons is used to pump protons across the mitochondrial membrane, creating a gradient.
Step 4: Learn how the proton gradient drives ATP synthesis. The enzyme ATP synthase uses the energy from the flow of protons back into the mitochondrial matrix to convert ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) into ATP. This is the most efficient way to produce ATP in human cells.
Step 5: Compare oxidative phosphorylation to fermentation. Fermentation is an anaerobic process that produces ATP without oxygen, but it is much less efficient than oxidative phosphorylation and does not recharge most of the ATP in human cells.