Chapter 9 - Pathways That Harvest Chemical Energy - 9.3 - Oxidative Phosphorylation Forms ATP - 9.3 Recap - Learning Outcomes - Page 184: 2

The energy released from the electron transport chain is used to pump protons from the matrix to the inter-membrane space, reducing H+ ions in the matrix and establishing an H+ gradient and a charge-distribution gradient known as the proton-motive force across the membrane. Protons driven by the proton-motive force diffuse back to the matrix through a channel protein called the ATP Synthase, which couples the diffusion with ATP synthesis.

The energy released from the electron transport chain is used to pump protons from the matrix to the inter-membrane space, reducing H+ ions in the matrix and establishing an H+ gradient and a charge-distribution gradient known as the proton-motive force across the membrane. Protons driven by the proton-motive force diffuse back to the matrix through a channel protein called the ATP Synthase, which couples the diffusion with ATP synthesis.