4. The role of
the electron acceptors embedded in the membranes of the cristae is to accept
the electrons brought by NADH or FADH2 and then cycle them through a number
of electron acceptors, with the electrons losing a small amount of energy at
each step along the way.
Some of this energy is used to pump hydrogen
ions into the outer compartment of the mitochondria creating an imbalance of
charge across the cristae. As hydrogen ions move back across the cristae, their
energy is used to synthesize ATP.
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Slichter