What is produced when ATP synthase combines ADP with phosphate?

What is produced when ATP synthase combines ADP with phosphate?

• A. ATP
• B. NADPH
• C. Glucose
• D. Oxygen

Answer: (A)

ATP synthase uses the energy of a proton gradient to drive the formation of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. As protons flow through the enzyme, its rotor turns and induces catalytic sites to bond a phosphate group to ADP, making ATP. This phosphorylation step is how cells store energy. The other molecules listed aren’t produced by this enzyme: NADPH is made in the light reactions of photosynthesis, glucose is synthesized later in the Calvin cycle, and oxygen is released during water splitting in photosynthesis. The key idea is that ATP synthase converts ADP and Pi into ATP by using the energy from moving protons across a membrane.

ATP synthase uses the energy of a proton gradient to drive the formation of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. As protons flow through the enzyme, its rotor turns and induces catalytic sites to bond a phosphate group to ADP, making ATP. This phosphorylation step is how cells store energy. The other molecules listed aren’t produced by this enzyme: NADPH is made in the light reactions of photosynthesis, glucose is synthesized later in the Calvin cycle, and oxygen is released during water splitting in photosynthesis. The key idea is that ATP synthase converts ADP and Pi into ATP by using the energy from moving protons across a membrane.