In: Biology
Trace your way from the electron transport chain to the citric acid cycle. In a few sentences, explain why the citric acid cycle stops when the electron transport chain is completely inhibited.
During respiration NADH and FADH2 are generated. These two molecules are called electron carriers or hydrogen carriers. These two molecules are continuously recycled or regenerated in the cells. Once generated, these molecules donate elections to electron transport chain. The electrons travel down the ETC and are finally accepted by the oxygen to form water. During this whole course energy is liberated in the form of ATP. Now, when the electron transport chain is inhibited inhibited, the NADH and FADH2 are not oxidised and they build up in the mitochondria. As such we don't have free NAD+ and FAD+ and the production of ATP stops. Due to unavailability of oxidised NAD AND FAD the citric acid cycle stops. Furthermore, glycolysis does not stop, because it switches to another pathway called as lactic acid fermentation during which NADH is oxidised and oxidised NAD is generated to keep glycolysis running.