ATP synthase is a key enzyme of mitochondrial energy conversion. Mitochondrial ATP synthase deficiency is due to a mutation in a gene important for the formation of a subunit in the ATP synthase complex. Scientists could use cells with this gene mutation to investigate which of the following questions? The figure shows the scheme of the inner mitochondrial membrane. ATP synthase is a key enzyme of mitochondrial energy conversion. Mitochondrial ATP synthase deficiency is due to a mutation in a gene important for the formation of a subunit in the ATP synthase complex. Scientists could use cells with this gene mutation to investigate which of the following questions? What effect does the mutation have on the movement of electrons between the electron carriers of the electron transport chain? What effect does the mutation have on the amount of ATP synthesized during cellular respiration? What effect does the mutation have on the number of water molecules formed at the end of the electron transport chain? What effect does the mutation have on the number of protons pumped into the intermembrane space of the mitochondria?

ATP synthase is the key enzyme for the ATP synthesis during the cellular respiration. It uses proton gradient (electrochemical gradient of the H+) which is generated as the electrons pass through the electron transport chain. This enzyme is located in the inner mitochondrial membrane of all cells, but also in chloroplasts of plants. ATP is produced from ADP and Pi. ATP synthase is composed of two main subunits F0 and F1.

Because of all these properties, mutation in a gene important for the formation of one of the subunits of the ATP synthase complex, can be used for the observation of ATP production.