During oxidative phosphorylation, the proton motive force (electrochemical gradient) that is generated by electron transport is used to:

A) create a pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane.
B) generate the substrates (ADP and P_i) for ATP synthase.
C) drive transport processes essential to oxidative phosphorylation.
D) reduce NAD⁺ to NADH.
E) reduce O₂ to H₂O.