Question

FADH2 Oxidation Shuttle and ATP:

Why the oxidation chain that includes the FAHD2 yields less ATP (30 ATP) than the NADH oxidation chain (32 ATP)?

Answer 1

Solution:

FADH2 yield less ATP than NADH because he electron transport chain is made of carrier molecules assembled into 3 protein complexes, and the passage of an electron through each complex generates enough energy to make roughly 1 ATP per complex. NADH enters the cycle at the first complex, donates two electrons and move through the chain with hydrogen being pumped at complex 1, complex 3 and complex 4.so NADH produces 3 ATP. FADH2 enters the cycle at the 2nd complex, donates two electrons with hydrogen being pumped at complex 3 and complex 4, thus generating 2 ATP.