Membrane-mediated protein–protein interactions. Schematic illustration of protein organization in the mitochondrial cristae membranes (adapted from Fig. 5 of Davies et al., 2011); the ATP synthase dimers (yellow) assemble into rows along the cristae ridge, whereas proton pumps (green) residue predominantly in the at membrane regions. Such organization has been proposed to support a high local proton gradient (however, see the discussion by Rieger et al., 2014) and efficient ATP synthesis (Davies et al., 2011).