Electron Transport Chain, what purpose does it serve in Catabolic pathway?
Electron Transport Chain
The electron transport chain, also known as the electron transport system, is a group of proteins that transfer electrons through a membrane within mitochondria to create a gradient of protons that drives adenosine triphosphate (ATP)synthesis. The cell uses ATP as an energy source for metabolic processes and cellular functions. ETC involves series of reactions that convert redox energy from NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) + hydrogen (H)) and FADH2(flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)) oxidation into proton-motive force(PMF), which is then used to synthesize ATP through conformational changes in the ATP synthase complex, a process known as oxidative phosphorylation.
Metabolism
Picture a campfire. It keeps the body warm on a cold night and provides light. To ensure that the fire keeps burning, fuel needs to be added(pieces of wood in this case). When a small piece is added, the fire burns bright for a bit and then dies down unless more wood is added. But, if too many pieces are placed at a time, the fire escalates and burns for a longer time, without actually burning away all the pieces that have been added. Many of them, especially the larger chunks or damp pieces, remain unburnt.
Cellular Respiration
Cellular respiration is the cellular process involved in the generation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules from the organic nutritional source obtained from the diet. It is a universal process observed in all types of life forms. The glucose (chemical formula C6H12O6) molecules are the preferred raw material for cell respiration as it possesses a simple structure and is highly efficient in nature.
Electron Transport Chain, what purpose does it serve in Catabolic pathway?
-Anabolism and catabolism are the two main components of metabolism.
- The metabolic process known as catabolism converts large, complex molecules into simpler ones in order to produce energy. The destructive branch of metabolism results in the release of energy. Large molecules like polysaccharides, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins are broken down into smaller molecules like monosaccharides, fatty acids, nucleotides, and amino acids.
-Catabolic reactions reduce large organic molecules into smaller ones, releasing the energy bound up in the chemical bonds. Catabolic processes include glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, the breakdown of muscle protein to use amino acids as substrates for gluconeogenesis, the breakdown of fat in adipose tissue to fatty acids etc.
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