BRAINCAKEThe Electron Transport Chain
The electron transport chain is the final stage of aerobic respiration. It is a series of electron carrier proteins embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane (cristae).
1. Reduced NAD and reduced FAD, from glycolysis, the link reaction and the Krebs cycle, deliver hydrogen atoms to the chain and are reoxidised to NAD and FAD.
2. Each hydrogen atom splits into a proton (H+) and an electron.
3. The electrons pass from carrier to carrier in a series of redox reactions: each carrier is reduced when it gains an electron and oxidised when it passes it on. The electrons lose energy at each step.
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Key terms in this lesson
- nad
- A coenzyme (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) that acts as a hydrogen acceptor in respiration, becoming reduced when it accepts hydrogen from a substrate.
- fad
- A coenzyme (flavin adenine dinucleotide) that acts as a hydrogen acceptor at one step of the Krebs cycle, becoming reduced when it accepts hydrogen.
More in Cellular Respiration
- Sprint Athletes
- Anaerobic Respiration in Plants and Fungi
- Discovery of Glycolysis
- Aerobic Respiration: Summary
- The Link Reaction
- The Krebs Cycle
- Chemiosmosis
- Net Gain of ATP
All 20 lessons in Cellular Respiration · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics