Electron-transferring flavoprotein

The Elektronentransferierende flavoprotein ( ETF abbreviated ) is a complex of two protein chains, which is part of the respiratory chain in bacteria and eukaryotes. The heterodimer of ETF - α and ETF - β is there for the transfer of two electrons, which are provided by FADH2 available, responsible. In humans, mutations in ETFA or ETFB gene coding for the ETF subunits for rare hereditary Glutaraziduria 2A ( GA2A ) lead.

Generally

Numerous mitochondrial enzymes contain flavin adenine dinucleotide as a covalently bound coenzyme. While NADH is soluble and can diffuse freely to the complexes of the respiratory chain, FADH2 is tightly bound to each enzyme. ETF acts as electron transporter. It accepts two electrons, and thereby reduced to FADH2 a private covalently bound FAD. Finally, there are, in turn, the electrons at the ETF ubiquinone oxidoreductase from which also contains a covalently bound FAD. This is again reduced to FADH2, and are now, in turn, the electrons at the localized in the mitochondrial inner membrane ubiquinone from.

β - oxidation

In a critical reaction of the β - oxidation, namely the reaction of an acyl -CoA to a trans - Δ ² - enoyl-CoA, katalyisiert by the acyl-CoA dehydrogenase five electrons are transferred to FADH2. Through the above mechanism, these electrons move to the respiratory chain.