Biology as Poetry: Bioenergetics

Bacteriophage Ecology Group

ATP Synthase

Reverse-running hydrogen ion pump employed for phosphorylation of adenosine diphosphate; is involved in one of the last steps of cellular respiration, what is known as chemiosmosis, and the light reaction of photosynthesis.

When running in its forward direction, ATP synthase instead is an ATP-dependent proton pump, i.e., one which is capable of producing proton motive force which, as ATP synthase, instead drives the production of ATP. This, for example, is how plant cell's produce a electrochemical gradient as analogous to the sodium-potassium pump employed by animal cells.

Video (Visual schematic of functioning of a key enzyme in catabolic processes)

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