What happens to the concentration of H+ in the intermembrane space and the matrix as electrons move down the ETC?

In electron transport chain, the multiprotein structure pumps out H+ ions into the intermembrane space. As the H+ ions get pumped out, the concentration of H+ in the intermembrane space gets higher. As a result, H+ ions will start flowing down back to the chromosomes matrix through the ATP molecule.

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luisvaschetto luisvaschetto · Answer 2 · 2021-08-12T22:22:49+02:00

The concentration in the intermembrane space increases while the concentration in the mitochondrial matrix decreases.

The electron transport chain (ETC) refers to a series of electron carriers localized in the inner mitochondrial membrane that shuttles electrons from the reduced forms of Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and Flavin adenine dinucleotide FADH2 to molecular oxygen (O2).

This process is coupled to the movement of protons H+ from the mitochondrial matrix to the intermembrane space, thereby molecular O2 is reduced to form water (H2O).

During the ETC, H+ ions are pumped from the mitochondrial matrix to the intermembrane space, creating an electrochemical gradient.

Subsequently, this electrochemical gradient is used by enzymes called ATP synthases to make ATP, the energy coin of the cell.

In conclusion, the concentration of the H+ ions in the intermembrane space increases, while the concentration of these ions in the mitochondrial matrix decreases.

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