Question

How does ATP synthase generate ATP?

Answer 1

ATP synthase:

1. ATP synthase is a protein located on the inner mitochondrial membrane.
2. It Is responsible for synthesizing ATP (adenosine triphosphate) from the proton concentration gradient.
3. It has two subunits known as F1 and F0 particles.
4. The proton gradient is built up at the inner mitochondrial matrix and intermembrane space.
5. The proton gradient is created by the electron transport chain (ETC).
6. There are various protein complexes involved in the ETC whose major role is to transfer electrons to the oxygen (last electron acceptor).
7. The ETC transfers 4H⁺(protons) into the inter-membrane space upon transferring 2 e^- (electrons) from one protein complex to another in the ETC.
8. During this transfer, energy-rich molecules such as NADH are oxidized by the ETC complexes releasing the H⁺ required for building up the proton gradient.
9. When two protons are pumped from the mitochondrial space to the inter-mitochondrial membrane through the ATP synthase, the F0 subunit is coupled with the synthesis of ATP at the F1 subunit.
10. The ATP synthase rotates around its axis coupling ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and Pi (inorganic phosphate) to generate ATP.
11. Hence, this is how ATP synthase generates ATP.