The Electron Transport

It is called ETC.

Electron transfer means the process where one electron relocate from one atom to the other atom.

Definition of Electron Transport Chain - The biological process where a chains of redox reaction take place as electrons are transferred from the doner to the acceptor creating proton gradient pump and energy is converted into chemical energy (ATP molecules). This process takes place in mitochondria and the different energy molecules that are produced by the glycolysis, Krebs cycle are passed don this chain of reaction producing water and ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Electron transfer with the transfer of proton creates an electrochemical proton gradient which drives the synthesis of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which store energy chemically with a highly strainers bonds, that contain peptide, enzymes (which are protein and protein complexes.

Ultimate electron Acceptors - In aerobic respiration electron acceptor is molecular oxygen and in anaerobic respiration electron acceptor is sulphate group.

Location of Electron Transport Chain - In plants and animals electron transport chain is observed in the inner mitochondrial membrane. In eukaryotes though it is found in the inner mitochondrial membrane but it serves as the site for oxidative phosphorylation by the action of ATP synthase. In green plants specially eukaryotes it is also found in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts. In bacteria electron transport chain is located in the cell membrane.

Reaction in Chloroplasts - In the chloroplasts of green plants light hydrolysis water to form oxygen and hydrogen ion then accepted by the NADP+ and converted to NADPH.

Reaction in Mitochondria - In the mitochondria oxygen is converted into water and NAD +is converted to NADH+. Conversion of succinate to fumarate and NADH+ is required for the establishment of proton gradient.

Oxidative Stress due to Electron Transport Chain - As electron transport chain is the major site for the electron leakage thus it can create oxidative stress.

Mitochondrial Redox Carriers - Energy which is obtained due to transfer of electrons through the electron transport chain is used to pump proton from the inner mitochondrial space to the mitochondrial matrix. There are several complex that are involved in the electron transport chain.

Complex 1 - NADH Coenzymes Q reductase marked as complex 1 . It is the electron acceptor of Krebs cycle. NADH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) transfer the electron into the ubiquinone that also receives electron from the complex 2.

Complex 2 – Succinate dehydrogenase marked as the complex 2. This passes electron to the complex 3.

Complex 3 - Cytochrome bc1 complex marked as complex 3 .complex 3 passes electron to cytochrome c. Then the cytochrome C passes the electron to the complex 4.

Complex 4 - Complex 4 accept electron and hydrogen ion which combined with molecular oxygen to produce water molecules. Cytochrome c oxidase is marked as complex 4.

In mitochondria already four complexes has been discovered which are membrane bound and they are embedded in the lipid layer of the membrane. Among the four complexes three are act as proton pumps and the all the four are found in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This structure is electrically connected by the lipid soluble proton pump and water soluble proton pump.

In mitochondria, electron transport chain is situated in the inner membrane where electrons move from a electron doner to the electron acceptor. Here electron donner is NADH₂ or QH2 where electron acceptor is molecular oxygen that occurs by a series of redox reactions. This thing creates a proton gradient via inner mitochondrial membrane to the matrix and provides energy for pumping of the proton pump. Three complexes – 1, 3, 4 are used as proton pump here. The resultant transmembrane produces ATP via ATP synthase. Reactions that occurred via complex 1 and complex 3 are almost maintained their equilibrium. It concluded that this reaction can be reversed by the change of concentration of the products and the reactants. ATP synthase can also be reversible. As a result ATP can be used for building proton gradient which are used as making proton gradient. This reverse electron transport chain is very important for some prokaryotes.

In Some Bacteria - In prokaryote like bacteria and archaea have different electron acceptor and doner thus their electron transport chain is more complicated.

Bacterial electron transport chains are inducible. According to the environment bacteria can change their different electron transport chains within them by synthesing different complexes for electron acceptor and electrons donner. They select their electron transport chain from their DNA library.

In Photosynthetic Organisms - In the oxidative phosphorylation reaction electrons are transferred from a low energy compound called NADH which is an electron doner to the high energy molecular oxygen acceptor by an electron transport chains. Here high energy is used for phosphorylation reaction and this create electron acceptor and doner. Then this compounds transport electrons through electron transport chains. Here photosynthetic electron transport chain have the similarities which like the mitochondrial whee they use lipid soluble carriers Quinone and water soluble mobile cytochrome carriers. It also contains proton pumps.

Components that Inhibits the Electron Transport Chains -

Complex 1 is inhibited by rotenone, barbiturates, c hloropromazine, piercidin etc.

Complex 2 is inhibited by carboxin.

Complex 3 is inhibited by Naphthoquinone, antimycin, British antiewistil etc.

Complex 4 is inhibited by cyanide, azide, carbon monoxide hydrogen sulphide etc.

Function of Electron Transport Chains - There are some functions in electron transport chains. They are-

1. Acts as Proton Electrochemical Gradient - Major function of electron transport chain is to produce proton  electrochemical gradient by using different proton pumps and transport electrons via the electron transport chain.

2. Conversion of Energy - If the protons flow back through the membrane they enable mechanical work like movement of flagella, cilia etc in prokaryote.

3. Highly Conserved ATP Synthase - ATP synthase has an activity that is associated with the production of ATP. This causes conversion of mechanical work into chemical energy. Thus ATP is called energy currency molecules.

4. Major Number of ATP Production - Though substrate level phosphorylation produces ATP in small amount like glycolysis. By the major number of ATP is produces by the electron transport chain.

Eleventh Grade

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