The process by which ATP is synthesized using the energy from a proton gradient across a membrane. As protons flow back through ATP synthase, their movement drives the formation of ATP from ADP and phosphate.
Coined by British biochemist Peter Mitchell in 1961, combining 'chemi-' from chemical and 'osmosis' from Greek meaning to push. Mitchell's revolutionary theory explained how cells couple electron transport to ATP synthesis, earning him the Nobel Prize in 1978.
Try Another Word