ELECTRON CARRIER Meaning and
Definition
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An electron carrier, also known as an electron shuttle or electron acceptor, refers to a molecule or a compound that actively participates in electron transfer during various biochemical reactions, particularly in cellular respiration and photosynthesis. Its primary function is to shuttle electrons from one molecule to another within a biological system.
Electron carriers play a crucial role in energy-production processes, such as oxidative phosphorylation and the electron transport chain, which occur in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. These carriers facilitate the movement of high-energy electrons generated during the breakdown of macronutrients, such as glucose, within the metabolic pathways. NAD+ and FAD are examples of essential electron carriers that act as coenzymes. They can accept high-energy electrons and store their chemical energy temporarily. Through successive reductions and oxidations, these carriers transfer electrons to other molecules, acting as a relay system, ultimately leading to the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal energy currency of cells.
In photosynthesis, electron carriers are crucial for capturing light energy and transferring it to produce chemical energy for the synthesis of glucose. In this process, carriers like NADP+ and ferredoxin accept excited electrons generated by chlorophyll molecules and transport them through a series of redox reactions to produce reducing power, such as NADPH.
Overall, electron carriers are pivotal in energy conversion, enabling the efficient transfer and storage of electrons to drive essential cellular processes across various organisms.
Common Misspellings for ELECTRON CARRIER
- wlectron carrier
- slectron carrier
- dlectron carrier
- rlectron carrier
- 4lectron carrier
- 3lectron carrier
- ekectron carrier
- epectron carrier
- eoectron carrier
- elwctron carrier
- elsctron carrier
- eldctron carrier
- elrctron carrier
- el4ctron carrier
- el3ctron carrier
- elextron carrier
- elevtron carrier
- eleftron carrier
- eledtron carrier
- elecrron carrier
Etymology of ELECTRON CARRIER
The etymology of the word "electron carrier" can be broken down as follows:
1. Electron: The term "electron" comes from the Greek word "ēlektron", which means "amber". In ancient times, it was observed that amber, when rubbed with certain materials, could attract small particles. Later, in the late 19th century, the concept of the electron was introduced by J.J. Thomson, who discovered that atoms contain tiny particles with a negative electric charge.
2. Carrier: The word "carrier" derives from the Old French term "carier", meaning "to carry" or "transport". It ultimately has its roots in the Latin word "carrus", meaning "cart" or "carriage".
Therefore, the combination of "electron" and "carrier" in the term "electron carrier" refers to a molecule or compound that carries or transports electrons during biochemical reactions.
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