Question

What happens during the electron transport chain?

Answer 1

Electron transport chain includes a series of electron transporters which undergo redox reaction by the movement of electron through them finally enabling the production of ATP which is the energy currency of the cell. It is located in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. After glycolysis and krebs cycle , electron donating molecules that are produced including NADH and FADH donated electrons to mitochondrial enzyme complexes to create a concentration gradient inside the memebrane by fluxing out hydrogen ions from the matrix. This current of passing of hydrogen ions through an enzyme complex known as ATP synthase leads to the production of ATP by combining ADP and Phosphate. Energy is stored in this covalent bond.

After series of redox reactions where electrons pass through the complexes , the final electron acceptor is an oxygen molecule. This produce water. There are four complexes includes in this series of elctron transporters. The common feature of all electron transport chain is the presence of a proton pump to pump electrons to produce ATP.