Exemplar Problems

Question:

Describe the role of NADH in cellular respiration.

Answer:

• NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is a coenzyme that plays a crucial role in cellular respiration.

• During glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, NADH is produced when it accepts high-energy electrons and hydrogen ions (H+) from metabolic reactions.

• NADH serves as an electron carrier, shuttling these electrons to the electron transport chain (ETC) in the mitochondria.

• In the ETC, the electrons are passed through a series of protein complexes, releasing energy.

• This energy is used to pump protons (H+) across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating an electrochemical gradient.

• The flow of protons back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase drives the synthesis of ATP.

• NADH is thus essential for the generation of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.