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Eukaryotes Research Paper

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Electron transport chain in the eukaryotes start in the intermembrane(cristae)of the mitochondria. Multiple copies are present in this inner membrane of mitochondria. This is also where oxidative phosphorylation occurs as the electron transport chain establishes a proton gradient by moving electrons from NADH and FADH2 to molecular oxygen. The four protein complexes labeled I through IV along with associated electron carriers move electrons from one component to the next quickly until the end of this cycle. The beginning of this cycle starts when two electrons on NADH are carried to the complex I. The hydrogen ion gradient is established by Complex I pumping four hydrogen ions across the membrane from the matrix into the cristae where the two …show more content…

As soon as it’s reduced to QH2,the electrons are delivered to the third complex cytochrome oxidoreductase. The cytochrome proteins have a heme group that only carries electrons, not oxygen. Complex III pumps protons through the membrane and passes its electrons to cytochrome c for transport to complex IV. Complex IV reduces oxygen due to cytochrome protein. These special proteins hold an oxygen molecule very tight between. the iron and copper ions until it is completely reduced. Then reduced oxygen picks up hydrogen ions from the surrounding environment to make water. Also the hydrogen ions being removed from this electrochemical gradient gives to the ion acclivity used to move ions across a selectively permeable membrane. The energy actually released by electrons in the electron transport chain is what transports protons from the inner mitochondrial membrane traveling from inner matrix to intermembrane space. This produces a strong hydrogen concentration gradient . The difference in proton concentration generates both a electrical potential and a store of energy in form of a ph gradient across the membranes. The protein enzyme called ATP synthase taps this potential energy in this gradient to make ATP from

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