kemiosmoositeorians
Chemiosmosis is a biological mechanism by which energy, released by a proton gradient, is used to synthesize ATP. This process is central to cellular respiration and photosynthesis. In eukaryotes, chemiosmosis occurs across the inner mitochondrial membrane during cellular respiration and across the thylakoid membrane in chloroplasts during photosynthesis. In prokaryotes, it takes place across the plasma membrane.
The theory, often referred to as the chemiosmotic theory, was first proposed by Peter Mitchell in 1961.
ATP synthase acts as a molecular motor. The energy from the proton motive force is harnessed by