ATP translocase

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Inhibition of the electron transport chain in coupled mitochondria can occur at any of the three constituent functional processes electron transport per se, formation of ATP, or antiport translocation of ADP/ATP (Table 16-1). The best known inhibitor of the ADP/ATP translocase is atractyloside in the presence of which no ADP for phosphorylation is transported across the inner membrane to the ATP synthase and no ATP is transported out. In the absence of ADP phosphorylation the proton gradient is not reduced allowing other protons to be extruded into the intermembrane space because of the elevated [H+], and thus electron transfer is halted. Likewise the antibiotic oligomycin directly inhibits the ATP synthase, causing a cessation of ATP formation, buildup of protons in the intermembrane space, and a halt in electron transfer. Similarly, a blockade of complex I, III, or IV that inhibits electron flow down the chain to would also stop both ATP formation and ADP/ATP translocation across the inner mitochondrial membrane. 

ADP outside the mitochondria is swapped for ATP inside the mitochondria by a specific translocase. 

An ATP-dependent aminophospholipid translocase activity in plasma membranes prevents this occurrence in healthy cells. 

FIGURE 31-7 Mitochondrial carriers. Ions and small molecules enter the intermembrane space, since the outer mitochondrial membrane is not a significant permeability barrier. However, the inner mitochondrial membrane is impermeable to ions except those for which there are specific carriers. Most of the carriers are reversible, as indicated by two-headed arrows. Compounds transported in one direction are indicated in red. The ATP/ADP translocase and the aspartate-glutamate carrier are both electrophoretic their transport is driven in the direction of the mitochondrial membrane potential, as indicated by red arrows. Glutamine is carried into the matrix by an electroneutral carrier. The unimpaired functioning of mitochondrial carriers is essential for normal metabolism. (Adapted with permission from reference [70].)... 

In many eukaryotic plasma membranes, PS resides in the inner leaflet (Schroit and Zwaal, 1991 Zachowski, 1993). This transbilayer distribution of membrane hpids is not a static situation but a result of balance between the inward and outward translocation of phospholipids across the membranes. Recent studies showed that the transbilayer lipid asymmetry is regulated by several lipid transporter proteins, such as aminophospholipid translocase (Daleke and Lyles, 2000), ATP-binding cassette transporter family (van Helvoort et al, 1996 Klein et al, 1999), and phospholipid scramblase (Zhou et al, 1997 Zhao et al, 1998). An increment of intracellular due to cell activation, cell injury, and apoptosis affects the activities of these transporters, resulting in exposure of PS (Koopman et al, 1994 Verhoven et al, 1995) and PE (Emoto et al, 1997) on the cell surface. 

ATP is made by the FiFo ATPase. This enzyme allows the protons back into the mitochondria. Since the interior is alkaline, the reaction is favorable—favorable enough to drive the synthesis of ATP by letting protons back into the mitochondria. Exactly how the FiFq ATPase couples the flow of protons down their concentration gradient to the formation of ATP is not known in molecular detail. The proton flow through the FiFo ATPase is required to release ATP from the active site where it was synthesized from ADP and Pj. The ATP is made in the interior of the mitochondria and must be exchanged for ADP outside the mitochondria to keep the cytosol supplied with ATP. The exchange of mitochondrial ATP for cytoplasmic ADP is catalyzed by the ATP/ADP translocase. 

The adenine nucleotide transporter is known as a translocase - it transports ADP into and ATP out of the mitochondrion in such a way that, when one molecule of ADP is transported in, one molecule of ATP is transported out... 

Figure 9.19 Adenine nucleotide translocase and phosphate transfer into the matrix. Phosphate is transported into the mitochondria with protons in a symport transport system. The adenine nucleotide translocase transports ADP into and ATP out of the mitochondria, i.e. it is electrogenic. The charge is neutralised by H movement into the matrix from the proton motive force which utilises about 25% of the energy in the proton motive force.

In addition to the processes described above, there still remains one further process which, at least in some cells or tissues, is required prior to the utilisation of ATP in the cytosol that is, the transport of energy within the cytosol, via a shuttle. The transport of ATP out and ADP into the mitochondrion, via the translocase, results in a high ATP/ ADP concentration ratio in the cytosol. However, a high ratio means that the actual concentration of ADP in the cytosol is low, which could result in slow diffusion of ADP from a site of ATP utilisation back to the inner mitochondrial membrane. If sufficiently slow, it could limit the rate of ATP generation. To overcome this, a process exists that transports energy within the cytosol, not by diffusion of ATP and ADP, but by the diffusion of phosphocreatine and creatine, a process known as the phosphocreatine/creatine shuttle. The reactions involved in the shuttle in muscle help to explain the significance of the process. They are ... 

An increase in the rate of cross-bridge cychng increases force of contraction of muscle, which decreases the cytosolic concentration of ATP and increases that of ADP. This results, via the adenine nucleotide translocase, in a similar change in direction of ATP and ADP concentrations within the mitochondrial matrix (i.e. a decrease in the ATP/ADP concentration ratio). 

The changes in the cytosolic ADP and ATP concentrations increase the mitochondrial matrix concentration of ADP and decrease that of ATP, via the adenine nucleotide translocase, which stimulates the flux of electrons along the transfer chain. 

A nucleotide transporter (located in the outer mitochondrial membrane) that mediates one-for-one transloca-tion/exchange of cytosolic ADP for mitochondrial ATP. This translocase is potently inhibited by atractyloside and bonkregic acid. 

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