What does a proton gradient do?

proton gradient. The product of the electron transport chain. A higher concentration of protons outside the inner membrane of the mitochondria than inside the membrane is the driving force behind ATP synthesis.Click to see full answer. Beside this, why is a proton gradient important?The proton gradient produced by proton pumping during the electron transport chain is used to synthesize ATP. Protons flow down their concentration gradient into the matrix through the membrane protein ATP synthase, causing it to spin (like a water wheel) and catalyze conversion of ADP to ATP.Similarly, what is the proton gradient in cellular respiration? Cellular respiration is dependent on the existence of an electrochemical proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The gradient created by this allows hydrogen back across the membrane, through an enzyme called ATP synthase. This process is called chemiosmosis and it occurs during cellular respiration. Regarding this, what is the function of the proton gradient in the mitochondria? The electrochemical proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane is used to drive ATP synthesis in the process of oxidative Phosphorylation. The device that makes this possible is a large membrane-bound enzyme called ATP synthase.How is the proton gradient maintained?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.