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Electron Transport Chain

Meaning

The Electron Transport Chain (ETC) is a series of protein complexes and electron carriers embedded within the inner mitochondrial membrane, constituting the final and most productive stage of cellular respiration. This essential metabolic pathway harnesses the energy released from the sequential transfer of electrons derived from nutrient oxidation to generate a proton gradient. The primary physiological role of the ETC is the production of the vast majority of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the universal energy currency required for all cellular functions, including hormone synthesis and signaling.