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Hidden Heroes in Breathing: What's the magic of NADH and FADH2?
Cellular respiration is a key process by which biological cells convert chemical energy into available energy. In this process, nutrients are oxidized through a series of metabolic reactions to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cells. Whether it is animals and plants, or certain bacteria, how profitable energy is released, there are unknown "heroes", namely NADH and FADH2.
The process of cell respiration can be described as a set of metabolic reactions and processes carried out within biological cells, aiming to convert chemical energy from nutrients to ATP and release waste.
Our story begins with aerobic breathing. This is a process that requires oxygen and is widely present in the biological world. Cells use glucose and other nutrients to perform a series of reactions in the cytoplasm and mitophyseal. Ultimately, NADH and FADH2 are generated and play a key role in the electron transport chain. This not only helps in the production of ATP, but also promotes the production and release of carbon dioxide and water.
Most ATP from aerobic cell respiration is produced by oxidative phosphorylation, and this process requires working together to drive NADH in the electron transport chain.
The existence of NADH and FADH2 enables the electron transfer chain to operate, and their lost electrons continuously drive protons to actively pass through the inner membrane, forming an electrostatic gradient pumped by protons, which in turn drives ATP synthetase to work, combining ADP and inorganic phosphoric acid to generate ATP. This process is called chemical penetration, which greatly improves the efficiency of ATP production.
The generation of ATP depends on NADH and FADH2 to change their energy state via electron transport chains.
NADH efficiency is particularly excellent in aerobic respiration in cells. According to data, each NADH can eventually generate 2.5 ATP, while FADH2 contributes 1.5 ATP. This makes aerobic respiration far exceeds anaerobic respiration in the ability to produce ATP, which can produce about 30 to 32 ATP per molecule of glucose. Compared with anaerobic respiration of 2 ATP, the advantage is obvious.
You who love exercise have ever thought that in high-intensity exercise, the energy source of muscle cells to quickly utilize is these hidden heroes NADH and FADH2? At the beginning of exercise, the ATP supplied comes from aerobic metabolism, but as the intensity of exercise increases and the oxygen supply is insufficient, the cells will begin to turn to anaerobic fermentation to produce energy in the form of lactic acid. At this time, NADH must be quickly reborn to ensure the corresponding energy supply.
The production of anaerobic respiration cannot use glucose inside the cell for a complete oxidation process, but it can quickly provide energy and renew NAD+.
This mechanism fully reflects the magic of NADH and FADH2. Even in the absence of oxygen, they can still support the energy needs of cells and avoid the fatigue caused by excessive lactic acid accumulation.
As scientific research deepens, we have learned that even in various environments, bacteria containing different electron receptors can continue to breathe and use different compounds to breathe to generate ATP, which further demonstrates the core position of NADH and FADH2 in the entire energy metabolism.
In the microscopic world of life, these small molecules exhibit great abilities and are crucial to biological activities. As the research deepens, we may be able to further explore their role and importance in different organisms in the future.
How much do you know about these small molecules that play a key role in breathing? Can their magicality be found in our lives more possibilities?
