
The protein (ATP synthase) is like a wheel and axle. Īlso, pumping of proton by ATP synthase causes a conformational change in the protein. In turn, the resulting proton gradients drive the synthesis of ATP during oxidative phosphorylation.

Thus, the electron transport chain establishes the proton gradients during electron transport, i.e. The transport of protons to the matrix through ATP synthase phosphorylates ADP and synthesizes ATP in the process. The electrochemical potential serves as a proton motive force that drives the transport of protons down the concentration gradients through ATP synthase, which situates in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Since the protons are positively charged, proton gradients create an electrochemical (pH and charge) difference, which generates an electrochemical potential. The accumulated protons in the intermembrane space generate proton gradients across the inner mitochondrial membrane. During electron transfer, proteins in the electron transport chain complexes pump the protons in the mitochondrial matrix to the intermembrane space. The oxidation of NADH and FADH 2 by the electron transport chain is coupled with chemiosmosis. Thus, most ATP molecules are synthesized during the last stage of cellular respiration from oxidative phosphorylation. Though the amount of ATP generated is substantial, it is insufficient for all cellular activities.

#Where does the energy come from to drive the proton pump series#
With sufficient oxygen level, each pyruvate molecule is transported to the mitochondrial matrix where it is oxidized and transformed into acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), which undergoes a series of enzymatic reactions in the Krebs cycle.Īt the end of the first three cellular respiration pathways, FAD +and NAD +are reduced into NADH and FADH 2, and ATP is generated from substrate-level phosphorylation. When a glucose molecule enters glycolysis, it is transformed into two pyruvate molecules. The complete cellular process consists of four pathways: glycolysis, pyruvate oxidation, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
