Electron Shuttles
The electron transport chain is a way that the mitochondria creates a proton gradient to create energy. The purpose is to transport the hydrogens created by glycolysis (using glycerol-3-phosphate or Malate aspartate).
In the glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle, the NADH product of glycolysis converts dihydroxy acetone phosphate (DHAP) into the glycerol-3-phosphate. This enzyme diffuses into mitochondria, and the electron is transferred to the shuttle. Then, the DHAP diffuses through the membrane to be used again.
Similarly, in the Malate Aspartate shuttle, cytoplasmic NADH transfers the electrons from glycolysis to mitochondrial NADH using the Malate Aspartate enzyme as a shuttle. This method is more efficient than that of the G3P cycle. It creates 3 ATP instead of the conventional 2 ATP created.
In the glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle, the NADH product of glycolysis converts dihydroxy acetone phosphate (DHAP) into the glycerol-3-phosphate. This enzyme diffuses into mitochondria, and the electron is transferred to the shuttle. Then, the DHAP diffuses through the membrane to be used again.
Similarly, in the Malate Aspartate shuttle, cytoplasmic NADH transfers the electrons from glycolysis to mitochondrial NADH using the Malate Aspartate enzyme as a shuttle. This method is more efficient than that of the G3P cycle. It creates 3 ATP instead of the conventional 2 ATP created.