Elektrontranszportláncba

Elektrontranszportláncba, often abbreviated as ETC, refers to the electron transport chain, a series of protein complexes and electron carrier molecules embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes and the plasma membrane in prokaryotes. This chain plays a crucial role in cellular respiration and photosynthesis.

During cellular respiration, electrons are passed from one molecule to another in the ETC, releasing energy at each step. This energy is used to pump protons (H+) from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space, creating a proton gradient. This gradient then drives the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy currency of the cell, through a process called chemiosmosis, facilitated by ATP synthase.

In photosynthesis, the electron transport chain in chloroplasts similarly uses light energy to energize electrons, which then move through a series of carriers. This process also contributes to the generation of a proton gradient, which ultimately leads to the production of ATP and another energy-carrying molecule, NADPH. These molecules are then used in the Calvin cycle to convert carbon dioxide into sugars. The term elektrontranszportláncba is the Hungarian phrase for electron transport chain.