Question

Describe the steps involved in the ATP production in the electron transport system (Only ETS, not glycolysis or Krebs Cycle)

Answer 1

1. NADH and FADH2 bring electrons to the electron transport chain and protons are pumped out through complexes 1 to 4.

2. NADH and FADH2 used to pump a pair of hydrogen ions into the intermembrane space. The transfer of a pair of electrons is through a chain of acceptors from one to another, with each transfer providing the energy to move another pair of hydrogen ions through the membrane.

3. At the end of the acceptor chain, the two electrons reduce an oxygen atom to form an oxygen ion, which is then combined with a pair of hydrogen ions to form H2O.

4. the movement of the hydrogen ions creates a large concentration of positively charged ions in the intermembrane space and a large concentration of negatively charged ions in the matrix, which sets up a large electrical potential.

5 This potential is used by the enzyme ATP synthase to transfer hydrogen ions into the matrix and to create ATP. The ATP produced in this process is transported out of the mitochondrial matrix through the inner membrane using carrier facilitated diffusion and diffusion through the outer membrane.

Total of 34ATP are produced in ETS.

1NADH= 3ATP , 1FADH2= 2ATP

10NADH + 2FADH2= 30ATP +4ATP= 34ATP.