Mary Frederick answered
An Electron Transport Chain (ETC) is sometimes called an Electron Transport System (ETS). This chain or system is the name given to a series of membrane-associated electron carriers control, biochemical reactions, which produce Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the energy currency of life. Living organisms have only two sources of energy these are: Oxidation reduction reactions, which are called redox and and sunlight ,which allows photosynthesis to take place.
Chemotrophs, which are ATP caused by redox reactions within organisms and phototrophs, which are organisms using sunlight. Both chemotrophs and phototrophs use electron transport chains to convert energy into ATP. This process of converting energy in ATP is a three step process. 1) A series of individual steps saps energy from the high-energy electron. 2) An electrochemical gradient is created as energy forcibly unbalances the proton concentration across the membrane. 3) ATP is produced as the proton concentration works to rebalance itself.
This process can be seen in action through a Flash animation from McGraw-Hill. Go to the website below for a complete explanation and diagrams of Electron Transport Chain at the following website.
Http:en.wikipedia.org.wiki/Electron_transport_chain
At the bottom of the page you will find a set of External links. Under the word "General" click on the, "Flash animation... link. After you watch the Flash presentation come back to the bottom of the page and click on each of the links under, "Calculated spatial positions of electron transport proteins in membrane." Click on each of these links and you will see the positions of proteins in membranes as part of this total process.
Chemotrophs, which are ATP caused by redox reactions within organisms and phototrophs, which are organisms using sunlight. Both chemotrophs and phototrophs use electron transport chains to convert energy into ATP. This process of converting energy in ATP is a three step process. 1) A series of individual steps saps energy from the high-energy electron. 2) An electrochemical gradient is created as energy forcibly unbalances the proton concentration across the membrane. 3) ATP is produced as the proton concentration works to rebalance itself.
This process can be seen in action through a Flash animation from McGraw-Hill. Go to the website below for a complete explanation and diagrams of Electron Transport Chain at the following website.
Http:en.wikipedia.org.wiki/Electron_transport_chain
At the bottom of the page you will find a set of External links. Under the word "General" click on the, "Flash animation... link. After you watch the Flash presentation come back to the bottom of the page and click on each of the links under, "Calculated spatial positions of electron transport proteins in membrane." Click on each of these links and you will see the positions of proteins in membranes as part of this total process.
