FADH2molekyylit

FADH2, also known as flavin adenine dinucleotide reduced, is a vital coenzyme involved in cellular respiration and other metabolic processes. It is the reduced form of FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide). FAD is a prosthetic group that binds to various enzymes, particularly those involved in oxidation-reduction reactions.

FADH2 plays a crucial role in the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle) and the electron transport chain. During the citric acid cycle, FAD accepts two electrons and two protons from succinate, converting it to fumarate, thereby becoming reduced to FADH2. This FADH2 then carries these high-energy electrons to the electron transport chain, where they are passed along a series of protein complexes.

In the electron transport chain, the energy released from the transfer of electrons is used to pump protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating an electrochemical gradient. This gradient is then used by ATP synthase to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell. While NADH also donates electrons to the electron transport chain, FADH2 enters the chain at a slightly later point, resulting in the production of fewer ATP molecules per molecule of FADH2 compared to NADH. However, FADH2 is still essential for efficient energy generation within the cell. Beyond energy metabolism, FADH2 is also involved in various other enzymatic reactions, including those related to fatty acid oxidation and DNA repair.