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?