Question

What are the steps of ATP synthesis?

Answer 1

ATP synthesis: It takes place in the mitochondria. Electrons are transferred from the intermembrane space to the inner membrane and into the matrix.

1. It is synthesized during cell respiration that is carried out by the electron transport chain during oxidative phosphorylation.
2. The electron transport system is a combination of four enzyme complexes. The complexes are NADH dehydrogenase (Complex I), Succinate dehydrogenase (Complex II), Cytochrome bc₁ (Complex III), Cytochrome c oxidase (Complex IV), and ATP synthase.
3. This creates a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane used for the production of ATP.
4. The formation of ATP is an unfavorable process unless it is coupled with the electrochemical gradient.
5. ATP is produced by ADP and inorganic phosphate ion. This reaction is catalyzed by ATP synthase.
6. The presence of the proton gradient induces the pumping of electrons form the matrix to the intermembrane space. The diffusion of the protons leads to the conformational change in the enzyme and this energy is used up by ATP synthase to generate ATP through chemiosmosis.