4. Electron Transport Chain (ETC) Reactions: oxidizes NADH + H+ and FADH 2 and transfer their electrons through a series of electron carriers to produce ATP. This process occurs in the mitochondrial cristae.
The Electron Transport Chain is a series of Electron Carriers, integral membrane proteins in the inner mitochondrial membrane. There are 1000s of ETC in each mitochondrion. Each carrier in the chain is REDUCED as it picks up electrons and OXIDIZED as it gives up electrons. As the electrons pass through the chain, a series of Exergonic reactions release small amounts of energy which is used to form ATP.
Briefly it works like this:
1. Energy from NADH + H+ passes along the ETC and is used to pump H+ from the matrix of the mitochondrion into the space b/t the inner and outer mitochondrial membranes. This mechanism is called a Proton Pump because H+ ions consist of a single proton.
2. A high concentration of H+ builds b/t inner and outer mitochondrial membranes.
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