BRAINCAKEChemiosmosis
Chemiosmosis is the process that uses the proton gradient built up by the electron transport chain to make ATP. The idea was proposed by Peter Mitchell in 1961 and won him a Nobel Prize in 1978.
1. Energy from electrons in the electron transport chain is used to pump protons (H+) from the matrix into the intermembrane space.
2. Protons accumulate there, so their concentration is higher than in the matrix. This forms an electrochemical gradient (a difference in both concentration and charge), a store of potential energy.
3. The inner membrane is impermeable to protons, except through channels in the enzyme ATP synthase.
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All 20 lessons in Cellular Respiration · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics