Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
A terminal electron acceptor is a compound that receives or accepts electrons at the end of an electron transport chain during cellular respiration or photosynthesis. This process is crucial for the synthesis of ATP, the energy currency of cells.
A series of complexes that transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors via redox reactions, and couples this electron transfer with the transfer of protons (H+ ions) across a membrane.