Electron transfer phosphorylation
NADH is converted to NAD+ when it transfers high-energy electrons to the first electron carrier of the electron transport chain.
If there is no oxygen present, the high-energy electrons held by NADH cannot be passed along the electron transport chain for energy production, resulting in a buildup of NADH and disrupted cellular respiration. The fate of the high-energy electrons and hydrogen held by NADH may vary depending on the organism, but typically, fermentation pathways are activated to regenerate NAD+ so glycolysis can continue generating ATP anaerobically.
The electron transport chain is also known as the respiratory chain. NADH carries electrons in the form of hydrogen atoms to the electron transport chain.
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme that can accept or donate electrons during cellular respiration. NADH is the reduced form of NAD, meaning it has gained electrons. NADH is a high-energy molecule that carries electrons to the electron transport chain for ATP production.
Oxygen is typically considered the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain (ETC) during cellular respiration. It accepts electrons from NADH and FADH2 to form water, which marks the end of the electron transport chain and generates ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
During fermentation, NADH transfers its electrons to pyruvate, converting it into lactate or ethanol. This process regenerates NAD+ from NADH, allowing glycolysis to continue producing ATP in the absence of oxygen.
The process by which NADH transfers electrons to oxygen is called oxidative phosphorylation. This process occurs in the mitochondria and involves a series of protein complexes known as the electron transport chain. As electrons are passed along the chain, they eventually reach oxygen, which serves as the final electron acceptor, producing water as a byproduct. This process generates ATP, the cell's main energy source.
What happens to the high-energy electrons held by NADH if there is no oxygen present?
NADH is converted to NAD+ when it transfers high-energy electrons to the first electron carrier of the electron transport chain.
The temperature in cells is not high enough. Each of the redox reactions in the electron transport chain are catalyzed by an enzyme. NADH dehydrogenase transfers electrons from NADH to ubiquinone, and cytochrome c oxidase transfers electrons from cytochrome c to oxygen. So there is no enzyme to pass the electrons directly from NADH to oxygen.
A NADH molecule stores 2 electrons.
If oxygen is present, NADH produced during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle will be oxidized in the electron transport chain (ETC). In the ETC, NADH donates electrons, which facilitate the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. This process regenerates NAD+, allowing glycolysis to continue. Thus, the presence of oxygen is crucial for efficient ATP production and the recycling of NADH.
NADH is reduced compared to NAD+ because it gains electrons and a hydrogen ion to form NADH during cellular respiration. In this process, NAD+ acts as an electron carrier that accepts electrons and a hydrogen ion from substrates being oxidized, converting it to NADH.
NADH and FADH2 are electron carriers that power the electron transport chain in cellular respiration. This process generates ATP, the cell's main energy currency, by transferring electrons from NADH and FADH2 to molecular oxygen.
The electron transport chain is also known as the respiratory chain. NADH carries electrons in the form of hydrogen atoms to the electron transport chain.
If there is no oxygen present, the high-energy electrons held by NADH cannot be passed along the electron transport chain for energy production, resulting in a buildup of NADH and disrupted cellular respiration. The fate of the high-energy electrons and hydrogen held by NADH may vary depending on the organism, but typically, fermentation pathways are activated to regenerate NAD+ so glycolysis can continue generating ATP anaerobically.
Is lactic acid formed and muscle tissue when there is not enough oxygen present