Topic: Plant Physiology

Subtopic: Respiration

Heading: Electron Transport System (aerobic)

Title: Electron Transport System (aerobic)

 The Electron Transport Chain (ETC) is a series of protein complexes located in the
inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotic cells or the plasma membrane in
prokaryotic cells. These complexes work together to transfer electrons and create an
electrochemical gradient that drives the synthesis of ATP.
 The ETC is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotic cells. In
prokaryotes, it is embedded in the plasma membrane.
 The ETC consists of a series of protein complexes, including Complex I (NADH
dehydrogenase), Complex II (Succinate dehydrogenase), Complex III (Cytochrome
bc1 complex), and Complex IV (Cytochrome c oxidase).
 Electrons from electron donors (NADH and FADH 2) are sequentially transferred
through the protein complexes. The electrons move through redox reactions, leading
to the reduction of molecular oxygen (O2) at the end of the chain.
 The ETC involves a series of redox reactions where electrons are transferred between
protein complexes, which contain various electron carriers, including flavins, iron-
sulfur clusters, and heme groups.
 Protons (H+) are actively pumped across the inner mitochondrial membrane during the
transfer of electrons through Complexes I, III, and IV. This creates a proton gradient
or proton motive force (PMF).
 The proton gradient generated across the inner mitochondrial membrane is a form of
potential energy. The proton motive force is utilized in oxidative phosphorylation for
the synthesis of ATP.
 The final electron acceptor in the ETC is molecular oxygen (O 2), which is reduced to
water (H2O). Oxygen consumption is a crucial indicator of ETC activity.
 The ETC is coupled with oxidative phosphorylation, leading to the synthesis of ATP.
ATP synthase utilizes the proton motive force to generate ATP from ADP and
inorganic phosphate (Pi).
Complexes of ETC:
Complex I - NADH Dehydrogenase (NADH-CoQ Reductase):
 Complex I is responsible for the transfer of electrons from NADH to coenzyme Q
(CoQ) and is the entry point for electrons into the ETC.
 NADH is oxidized, and electrons are transferred to a series of iron-sulfur clusters
within Complex I. Simultaneously, protons (H+) are pumped across the inner
mitochondrial membrane from the matrix to the intermembrane space.
 Complex I contributes to the proton motive force by pumping protons across the inner
mitochondrial membrane.

Complex II - Succinate Dehydrogenase:

 Complex II participates in both the TCA cycle and the ETC. It transfers electrons
from succinate to CoQ.
 Succinate is oxidized to fumarate in the TCA cycle, and electrons are transferred to
flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) within Complex II. Then, electrons are transferred
to CoQ.
 Unlike Complex I, Complex II does not actively pump protons. However, it
contributes to the overall electron flow and proton gradient.

Complex III - Cytochrome bc1 Complex (CoQH2-Cytochrome c Reductase):

 Complex III transfers electrons from CoQ to cytochrome c and is a crucial site for
preventing the leakage of electrons.
 Electrons from CoQ are transferred through cytochrome b and c1 to cytochrome c.
 Complex III actively pumps protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane into
the intermembrane space.

Complex IV - Cytochrome c Oxidase:

 Complex IV is the terminal complex that transfers electrons from cytochrome c to
molecular oxygen (O2), forming water.
 Electrons from cytochrome c are transferred through cytochrome a and a3 to oxygen,
which is reduced to water.
 Complex IV actively pumps protons, contributing to the establishment of the proton
motive force.

Complex V - ATP Synthase (F1Fo ATPase):

 Complex V synthesizes ATP using the energy stored in the proton motive force
generated by the previous complexes.
  Protons flow back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase, driving the
rotation of the enzyme＂s components and allowing the synthesis of ATP from ADP
and inorganic phosphate (Pi).
 Complex V does not actively pump protons; instead, it utilizes the proton motive
force generated by the other complexes.

Mechanism of Electron Transport Chain:

 Electrons from NADH, generated during glycolysis and the TCA cycle, are donated to
Complex I (NADH dehydrogenase), leading to the oxidation of NADH and the
transfer of electrons to the flavin mononucleotide (FMN) within Complex I.
 As electrons move through Complex I, protons are actively pumped from the
mitochondrial matrix to the intermembrane space. Electrons are transferred from
Complex I to Coenzyme Q (CoQ), leading to the reduction of CoQ to CoQH2.
 Electrons from FADH2, produced in the TCA cycle, enter Complex II (Succinate
dehydrogenase), resulting in the oxidation of FADH2 and the transfer of electrons
through iron-sulfur clusters within Complex II. Electrons from Complex II are
transferred to CoQ, forming CoQH2.
 CoQH2 transfers electrons to Complex III (cytochrome bc1 complex), leading to the
active pumping of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Electrons move
through cytochrome b and c1, ultimately reaching cytochrome c.
 Cytochrome c transfers electrons to Complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase), leading to
the reduction of oxygen (O2) to water (H2O). This step completes the electron
transport chain.
 Protons pumped across the inner mitochondrial membrane during the previous steps
flow back into the mitochondrial matrix through Complex V (ATP synthase). The
flow of protons through ATP synthase powers the rotation of its components.
 Oxidative phosphorylation:
 Oxidative phosphorylation is the process by which ATP is synthesized using the
energy released during the transfer of electrons in the ETC. It occurs in the inner
mitochondrial membrane and involves the enzyme ATP synthase.
 ATP synthase is a molecular machine embedded in the inner mitochondrial
membrane. It consists of a rotor (Fo) and a catalytic knob (F1).
  Protons flow back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase, driven by the
proton motive force. The flow of protons causes the rotor to spin within ATP synthase,
inducing conformational changes in the catalytic knob.
 As the rotor turns, the conformational changes in the catalytic knob enable the
synthesis of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi). This process is known as
chemiosmotic coupling, as it couples the flow of protons (chemiosmosis) with ATP
synthesis.
 Oxidative phosphorylation is tightly coupled with the ETC. The energy released
during the transfer of electrons down the ETC establishes the proton motive force
necessary for ATP synthesis.

Electron Transport Chain

Reference- NCERT Textbook for class XI.