Question

What is the role of ATP Synthase?

Answer 1

Hint: ATP synthase is a mitochondrial enzyme localized in the inner membrane, where it catalyzes the synthesis of ATP from ADP and phosphate.
ATP synthase is the enzyme that makes ATP by chemiosmosis.
It allows protons to pass through the membrane using kinetic energy to phosphorylate ADP making ATP.

Complete answer:
Synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of new compounds in the body.
We discussed that ATP synthase is an enzyme or protein that directly generates ATP (adenosine triphosphate) during the process of cellular respiration.
ATP Synthase forms ATP from ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and an inorganic phosphate (Pi) through oxidative phosphorylation, which is a process in which enzymes oxidize nutrients to form ATP.
ATP synthase is a complex which makes use of the proton potential created by the action of the electron transport chain in mitochondria.
It transports a proton down the gradient and uses the energy to complete the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP.
ATP is synthesized by ATP synthase in the thylakoid lumen through the thylakoid membrane and into the chloroplast stroma.
The generation of ATP by chemiosmosis occurs in chloroplasts and mitochondria as well as in some bacteria.
The function of ATP synthase is to synthesize ATP, this is possible due to energy derived from a gradient of protons which cross the inner membrane from intermembrane space through the Fo portion of the enzyme.
ATP synthase contain 2 regions – Fo and F1
Fo – causes rotation of F1 and is made of C-ring and subunits a, two b.
F1- made of alpha, beta, gamma and epsilon subunits.
F1 particles are large and can be seen in the transmission electron microscope by negative staining.
Eukaryotic ATP synthases are F-ATPases running inverse for an ATPase. An F-ATPase consists of two main subunits Fo and F1 which has a rotational motor mechanism.
As we know, F0 is a water insoluble protein with eight subunits and a transmembrane ring. The ring has a tetramer shape with a helix loop helix protein that goes through conformational changes when protonated and deprotonated causing the spinning of Fo which affects the conformation of F1 also.
In eukaryotes, mitochondrial Fo forms membrane bending dimers. These dimers self arrange into long rows at the end of cristae.
The consumption of ATP by ATP synthase pumps proton cations into the matrix.
The F1 region also shows significant similarity to hexameric DNA helicase and the entire enzyme region shows flagellar motor complexes.
As we know that, it is classified under ligases as it changes ADP by the formation of P-O bond (phosphodiester bond).

Note:
The F1 is the Water soluble part or the hydrophilic part that hydrolyzes ATP.
Fo is the hydrophobic region.
Both create proton movement across the membrane.
ATP is the powerhouse of any cell and it is required for all the vital activity in the body. Hence it is synthesized in large amounts in the body.