Final answer:
ATP synthase is directly powered by a proton gradient, which is an electrochemical potential energy. This gradient is harnessed to synthesize ATP as the protons flow through the ATP synthase enzyme.
Step-by-step explanation:
ATP synthase is directly powered by a proton gradient. An electrochemical gradient developed due to protons (H+) is a form of electrochemical potential energy. ATP-Synthase harnesses the electrochemical potential energy to synthesize ATP as the protons flow through it. The higher energy ATP is synthesized by condensing lower energy ADP and phosphate Pā in a process called oxidative phosphorylation.