What role does ATP synthase play in cellular respiration?

ATP synthase plays a crucial role in cellular respiration by catalyzing the conversion of ADP to ATP using a proton gradient. This process occurs during oxidative phosphorylation, which is part of the electron transport chain located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. As electrons are transferred through a series of protein complexes, they generate a proton gradient across the membrane, creating a difference in proton concentration.

ATP synthase harnesses this electrochemical gradient, allowing protons to flow back across the membrane into the mitochondrial matrix. The energy released from this movement of protons drives ATP synthase to enzymatically add a phosphate group to ADP, forming ATP. This process is essential as ATP serves as the primary energy currency of the cell, fueling various biological processes.

The other options relate to different aspects of cellular respiration but do not accurately describe the specific function of ATP synthase in synthesizing ATP from ADP.