ATPszintetázban

ATPszintetázban is the Hungarian term for ATP synthase. ATP synthase is a crucial enzyme found in the inner mitochondrial membrane and the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. Its primary function is to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy currency of the cell. This process, known as oxidative phosphorylation or photophosphorylation, utilizes the energy from a proton gradient established across these membranes.

The enzyme operates like a molecular turbine. Protons flow down their electrochemical gradient through a channel in the enzyme, causing a rotation of a central subunit. This mechanical rotation drives conformational changes in other parts of the enzyme, which in turn catalyze the phosphorylation of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to ATP. This remarkable molecular machine is responsible for generating the vast majority of ATP produced by aerobic organisms. The efficiency and complexity of ATP synthase highlight the elegant engineering of biological systems for energy production.