Elektroninvetäjät

Elektroninvetäjät, sometimes translated as electron carriers or electron shuttles, are molecules within biological systems that participate in the transfer of electrons. This process is fundamental to a wide range of metabolic pathways, most notably cellular respiration and photosynthesis. These molecules act as intermediaries, accepting electrons from one compound and passing them to another, thereby facilitating the controlled release or storage of energy.

Key examples of elektroninvetäjät include coenzymes such as NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide). In cellular respiration, NADH and FADH2, the reduced forms of these coenzymes, carry high-energy electrons from the breakdown of glucose to the electron transport chain, where their energy is used to generate ATP. In photosynthesis, molecules like plastoquinone and ferredoxin serve a similar role, transferring electrons during the light-dependent reactions to drive the synthesis of ATP and NADPH. The ability of elektroninvetäjät to reversibly accept and donate electrons makes them indispensable components of energy metabolism, linking different stages of complex biochemical processes. Their precise and ordered function ensures that energy conversion occurs efficiently and with minimal loss.