The role of NADH and FADH2

What is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide?

NAD+ is a coenzyme found in all living cells

What does NAD+ do in metabolism?

carries electrons from one reaction to another

What two forms can NAD+ be found in cells?

OIL RIG
As NAD+ acts as an oxidizing agent because it accepts electrons from other molecules it becomes reduced.

• the reduced state carries the electrons known as NADH

How is the NADH converted into usable energy?

• how much does it yield?

converted into ATP in the mitochondria by the electron transport chain ETC

• 1NADH = 3 ATP

What is Flavin adenine dinucleotide?

• what does it carry?

• yield

FAD

also carries electrons

when reduced = FADH2

1FADH2 = 2 ATP

Why are NADH and FADH2 used?

used to capture energy released by bonds that will later be converted into ATP so there is no loss of energy

Energy equivalence for various molecules

break a small bond - capture directly as ATP = 1 ATP

break a medium bond - capture directly as FADH2 = 2 ATP

break a large bond - capture directly as NADH = 3ATP