Ode to the Electron Transport Chain

Sometimes you have to find your own way of understanding concepts, whether it’s mnemonics, pictures, acronyms.. or even poems. Yes, poems can be written in the wonderful world of science, though not as whimsical as Dr. Seuss, they do however, get the material down pat. 

Wouldn’t you rather read a poem than figure this out?

The following is an Ode to the Electron Transport Chain, written by my husband, a first year podiatry student:

Complex one makes NAD from FNM and FMNH two
Making sure Fe-S is reduced
Complex two takes Coenzyme Q to make CoenzymeQH two

Ubiquinone to ubiquinol 
don’t forget to pick up the 2 e that fall
Complex two “succs” and “fumes” FAD to FADH two
Don’t forget reducing CoQ to CoQH two

Hydrogens in the membrane pumped so tight 
poor FADH two missed the first H-pump sight 
It’s okay, because they will follow through 
whether from complex one, two or CoQH two

Remember B>S>C for complex three 
All this just to move along 2 e
Complex four take cytochrome C to A to A3
pump 3, 2H per pair of e

Finally, O2 and 4H come to a bend
to make H2O…nope, not the end
All the H’s from the top 
push H and ATP, through the massive lollipop