FADH2 is an important carrier of electrons. FAD
is the oxidized form of the molecule (lacks electrons). FADH2 is the reduced form (carries
electrons). FAD and FADH2 function in many oxidation reactions,
such as those catalyzed by succinate
dehydrogenase and fatty
acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. Electrons carried by FADH2 do not pass through complex
I of the mitochondrial electron
transport system and thus do not result in synthesis of
as many ATPs in oxidative
phosphorylation as electrons from NADH,
which do pass through Complex I. It is estimated that each pair
of electrons donated by FADH2 results in two ATPs, whereas each pair of electrons
from NADH results in three ATPs.