This process uses NADH and FADH2 to produce ATP
oxidative phosphorylation
fermentation
glycolysis
krebs cycle
oxidative phosphorylation
The process that uses NADH and FADH2 to produce ATP is called oxidative phosphorylation.
To understand this, let's break down the process step by step:
1. First, NADH and FADH2 are produced during two earlier stages of cellular respiration: glycolysis and the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle or the tricarboxylic acid cycle).
2. Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and breaks down glucose into pyruvate, generating a small amount of ATP and NADH.
3. The Krebs cycle takes place in the mitochondria and further breaks down the pyruvate molecules, releasing carbon dioxide, generating NADH and FADH2, and another small amount of ATP.
4. Once NADH and FADH2 are produced, they transfer their high-energy electrons to the electron transport chain.
5. The electron transport chain is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane and is composed of a series of protein complexes. As the high-energy electrons pass through these complexes, their energy is gradually harvested and used to generate ATP.
6. The electrons' energy is used to pump protons (H+) across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating an electrochemical gradient.
7. Finally, ATP synthase, another protein complex, uses the energy from the flow of protons down the electrochemical gradient to produce ATP. This process is known as oxidative phosphorylation because it combines the oxidation of NADH and FADH2 with the phosphorylation of ADP to form ATP.
So, the correct answer is oxidative phosphorylation.