Question

The chemiosmotic hypothesis suggests that the ATP are produced on the inner membrane of mitochondria due to

• A. F₁ particles present between the inner and outer membrane of mitochondria.
• B. involvement of oxygen as the electron acceptor.
• C. creation of a proton electrochemical gradient across inner membrane of mitochondria.
• D. enzymes present in the mitochondrial matrix.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

The chemiosmotic hypothesis put forth by Sir Peter Mitchell suggests that the proton gradient created across the inner membrane of mitochondria is responsible for the pumping of $H^{+}$ ions into the mitochondrial matrix. This energy produced by the proton pump is harnessed by the catalytic subunit of ATPase enzyme complex to produce ATP. A similar mechanism is seen in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplast during energy production in the light reaction of photosynthesis.