Mitochondria are the energy-producing powerhouses of cells, and dinitrophenol (DNP) works by interfering with a basic metabolic process called oxidative phosphorylation. Respiration by cells: Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the product of a set of metabolic events called cellular respiration that mitochondria perform to generate energy. Proton Discharge: Electron transport in mitochondrial inner membrane protein complexes is a major component of cellular respiration. This activity results in an electrochemical gradient called a proton gradient, which pushes protons across the membrane. ATP production: ATP synthase, a molecular turbine, facilitates proton flow into the mitochondrial matrix in order to produce ATP from ADP and PI. The main mechanism by which cells produce ATP for energy is a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Effect of decoupling: As a proton ionophore, DNP can move protons across the mitochondrial membrane without the help of normal protein complexes, which stops this function from working. This causes the proton gradient to fall, which in turn prevents electron transport from continuing, thereby blocking ATP production. Energy loss: Due to damage to the coupling of oxidative phosphorylation, it becomes unable to produce ATP from the energy generated during the breakdown of food. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases as a result of its dissipation as heat. This increase in metabolic rate helps with weight loss, which leads to more burning of calories. All in all, DNP slows down cellular respiration by messing up the proton gradient across the mitochondrial membrane. This separates oxidative phosphorylation, which wastes energy as heat instead of ATP. The claimed weight-loss benefits are at least partly due to this increase in basal metabolic rate. But be careful and understand that the uncoupling effects of DNP can be quite harmful to your health, so it is important to use it carefully.