Intermembrane space of mitochondria

Because of channels in the outer membrane of the mitochondria, the content of the intermembrane space is similar to that of the content of the cytoplasm.

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As electrons move down the proteins in the electron transport chain, the electrons lose energy to bring H+ ions from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space. As a concentration gradient of hydrogen ions forms, a protein called ATP synthase harnesses the potential energy of these ions and starts chemiosmosis, where the H+ ions reenter the matrix via this enzyme bound to the cristae (folds of the inner membrane). ADP and a phosphate group are combined to form ATP.

v • d • e Mitochondrial enzymes and transporters
Outer membrane	Long fatty acyl CoA synthetase - Kynureninase - Monoamine oxidase
Intermembrane space	Adenylate kinase - Creatine kinase
Inner membrane	Coenzyme Q - cytochrome c reductase -Cytochrome c - Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase -Glutamate aspartate transporter - Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase - NADH dehydrogenase - Succinate dehydrogenase
Matrix	Aconitase - Aspartate transaminase - ALDH2 - Carbamoyl phosphate synthase - Citrate synthase - Fumarase - Glutamate dehydrogenase - Isocitrate dehydrogenase - Malate dehydrogenase - Ornithine transcarbamoylase - Oxoglutarate dehydrogenase - Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex - Succinyl coenzyme A synthetase
Mitochondrial DNA	Complex I (7 units) - Complex III (1 unit) - Complex IV (3 units) - ATP synthase (2 units)