Which coenzymes are primarily involved in transferring electrons during cellular respiration?

FAD and NAD+ are crucial coenzymes in cellular respiration because they play a vital role in the transfer of electrons during the metabolic process. Both these coenzymes act as electron carriers that help facilitate the flow of electrons from glucose breakdown through a series of reactions, ultimately leading to the production of ATP.

During glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, NAD+ is reduced to NADH, and FAD is reduced to FADH2. These reduced forms then transport electrons to the electron transport chain, a series of proteins embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. As electrons are passed through the chain, they release energy that is used to pump protons across the mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis through oxidative phosphorylation.

In contrast, the other options provided do not primarily serve as electron carriers. Coenzyme A is involved in the transfer of acyl groups and does not carry electrons, while ATP is the energy currency of the cell but does not directly participate in electron transfer. ADP and AMP are related to the energy state of the cell but are not involved in transferring electrons. CoQ (ubiquinone) and Cyt c (cytochrome c) are involved in electron transfer but are more specialized electron carriers within