ATP synthase

Last reviewed 01/2018

ATP synthase is a large enzyme found in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It is divided into:

• F1 head section
• F0 proton channel

It is vital for the transduction of a proton gradient into the energy held within the terminal phosphate bond of ATP during oxidative phosphorylation. Protons pass down the proton channel along their chemiosmotic gradient and simultaneously induce a change in the head section. The configurational change triggers the reaction: ADP + inorganic phosphate -> ATP.