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What is a greater concentration of hydrogen ions in the intermembrane space than in the mitochondrial matrix?
The pumping of hydrogen ions across the inner membrane creates a greater concentration of the ions in the intermembrane space than in the matrix. This chemiosmotic gradient causes the ions to flow back across the membrane into the matrix, where their concentration is lower.
Is the proton concentration higher in the mitochondrial matrix or intermembrane space?
This means that the protons need to be pumped across the inner mitochondrial membrane into the intermembrane space. This results in the intermembrane space having the lowest pH in the mitochondria, due to the high proton concentration.
Why is there a high concentration of hydrogen ions in the inner mitochondrial space?
as the inner mitochondrial membrane is impermeable to protons, H+ ions cannot pass back through the inner mitochondrial membrane, into the matrix, therefore there is a higher concentration of H+ ions in the inter-membrane space, thus setting up and maintaining a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
What happens to the concentration of hydrogen in the intermembrane space?
These hydrogen ions accumulate in relatively high concentrations in the intermembrane space. They then move down their concentration gradient through the channel of ATP synthase. ATP synthase couples this movement of hydrogen ions to the phosphorylation of ADP, which produces ATP.