Where does cellular respiration occur in bacteria?

Since bacteria do not contain any organelles, cellular respiration occurs in the cytoplasm along the plasma membrane, as it is the only area where bacteria can generate the proton gradient required for forming ATP. The pumping of protons through specialized channels in the inner membranes of the mitochondria to the exterior is known as chemiosmosis. However, since bacteria do not have a mitochondria, pumping occurs instead within the cell membrane. This pumping of protons forms a proton gradient, where protons are able to travel downwards through channels. The energy of these protons are used to produce ATP. A total of 38 molecules of ATP are typically produced from one glucose sugar in bacterial cells.