electron transport

American  

noun

Biochemistry.

1. the stepwise transfer of electrons from one carrier molecule, as a flavoprotein or a cytochrome, to another along the respiratory chain and ultimately to oxygen during the aerobic production of ATP.

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electron transport British  

noun

1. biochem the metabolic process in mitochondria or chloroplasts, in which electrons are transferred in stages from energy-rich compounds to molecular oxygen with liberation of energy

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electron transport Scientific  

1. The movement of electrons from one electron carrier to another in a series of oxidation-reduction reactions, with each electron transferred to a slightly lower level of energy, so that energy is released. Electron transport is used in the light reactions of photosynthesis and in the final stage of cellular respiration to produce ATP from ADP and phosphate.

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Etymology

Origin of electron transport

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

The team found that the D2 branch has a much higher energy barrier, which makes electron transport energetically unfavourable.

From Science Daily • Oct. 13, 2025

The team's findings illuminate the fact that not all polymers will behave similarly when tweaked in an effort to mimic the efficient electron transport in chiral structures.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2023

"By narrowing the QAH insulator devices, the current pulse resulted in very high current density that switched the magnetization direction, as well as the direction of the electron transport route."

From Science Daily • Oct. 19, 2023

The electron transport chain and the production of ATP through chemiosmosis are collectively called oxidative phosphorylation.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

If there were no oxygen present in the mitochondrion, the electrons could not be removed from the system, and the entire electron transport chain would back up and stop.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013