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Electron Transport Chain

Definition

The electron transport chain is a series of protein complexes and electron carrier molecules within the inner mitochondrial membrane that harvest energy from electrons to create ATP.

Analogy

Think of the electron transport chain as a water slide at an amusement park. Electrons are like people sliding down, losing energy (in this case, potential energy) with each twist and turn. This lost energy is used to pump protons across the membrane (like using water pressure to push rafts back up to the top), which ultimately drives ATP synthesis.

Related terms

NADH and FADH2: These are electron carriers that donate electrons to the electron transport chain, much like how people get on a water slide.

ATP synthase: This is an enzyme that uses the proton gradient created by the electron transport chain to make ATP - it's like the exit pool at the bottom of our waterslide where all that kinetic energy finally gets put to use!

Chemiosmosis: This process uses energy stored in a proton gradient across a membrane (created by our waterslide-like ETC) to drive cellular work such as ATP synthesis.