Transport chain, proton

This is a crucial point because (as we will see) proton transport is coupled with ATP synthesis. Oxidation of one FADHg in the electron transport chain results in synthesis of approximately two molecules of ATP, compared with the approximately three ATPs produced by the oxidation of one NADH. Other enzymes can also supply electrons to UQ, including mitochondrial 5w-glyc-erophosphate dehydrogenase, an inner membrane-bound shuttle enzyme, and the fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenases, three soluble matrix enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation (Figure 21.7 also see Chapter 24). The path of electrons from succinate to UQ is shown in Figure 21.8. 

Mitchell s chemiosmotic hypothesis. The ratio of protons transported per pair of electrons passed through the chain—the so-called HV2 e ratio—has been an object of great interest for many years. Nevertheless, the ratio has remained extremely difficult to determine. The consensus estimate for the electron transport pathway from succinate to Og is 6 H /2 e. The ratio for Complex I by itself remains uncertain, but recent best estimates place it as high as 4 H /2 e. On the basis of this value, the stoichiometry of transport for the pathway from NADH to O2 is 10 H /2 e. Although this is the value assumed in Figure 21.21, it is important to realize that this represents a consensus drawn from many experiments. 

ATP results from the movement of approximately three protons from the cytosol into the matrix through Fg. Altogether this means that approximately four protons are transported into the matrix per ATP synthesized. Thus, approximately one-fourth of the energy derived from the respiratory chain (electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation) is expended as the electrochemical energy devoted to mitochondrial ATP-ADP transport. 

In the case of PEMs, the situation is more complicated because the sulfonate counter-ions (in the case of a PEM such as Nafion ) are bound to the polymer chain and are thus relatively immobile, in contrast to the free counter-ion in a small molecule acid such as sulfuric or acetic acid. Tethering of the sulfonate group can be considered to be an impediment to the mobility of the proton as it traverses the membrane. Proton mobility is also affected by the effective mean-free path of connectivity of the conduction pathway as shown in Figure 3.2. In situation (a), the increased number of dead ends and tortuosity of the aqueous domains through which proton transport occurs over the situation in (b) leads to lower overall mobility. This has been demonstrated by Kreuer and will be discussed later in this section. 

For instance, the Dow experimental membrane and the recently introduced Hyflon Ion E83 membrane by Solvay-Solexis are "short side chain" (SSC) fluoropolymers, which exhibit increased water uptake, significantly enhanced proton conductivity, and better stability at T > 100°C due to higher glass transition temperatures in comparison to Nafion. The membrane morphology and the basic mechanisms of proton transport are, however, similar for all PFSA ionomers mentioned. The base polymer of Nation, depicted schematically in Figure 6.3, consists of a copolymer of tetrafluoro-ethylene, forming the backbone, and randomly attached pendant side chains of perfluorinated vinyl ethers, terminated by sulfonic acid head groups. °... 

The following description of the electron transfer-proton transport scheme is illustrated in Figure 7.26. First, an electron is transferred from doubly reduced dihydroplastoquinone (PQFI2) to a high potential electron transfer chain that consists of the Reiske iron-sulfur protein and the cytochrome protein containing heme f. Rappaport,Lavergne and co-workers have reported a midpoint potential at pH 7.0 of +355 mV for heme f. These two centers reside on the electropositive (lumen or p) side of the membrane, exterior to the membrane. As a result, two protons are transferred to the aqueous lumen phase. A second electron is transferred from PQH2 sequentially to heme bp. 

The properties are as follows, (i) The activity of the protein (i.e. the inward transport of protons) is inhibited by ATP. (ii) The activity of the protein is increased by the presence of long-chain fatty acids, since they relieve the ATP inhibition, (iii) When mitochondria, isolated from brown adipose tissue, are incubated in the presence of fatty acids, there is a sharp increase in the rates of electron transfer, substrate utilisation and oxygen consumption, whereas the rate of ATP generation remains low. These studies indicate that the rate of proton transport, by the uncoupling protein, depends on the balance between the concentrations of ATP and fatty acids, (iv) In adipocytes isolated from brown adipose tissue, the rate of oxygen consumption (i.e. electron transfer) is increased in the presence of catecholamines. 

Proton transport via complexes I, III, and IV takes place vectorially from the matrix into the intermembrane space. When electrons are being transported through the respiratory chain, the concentration in this space increases—i. e., the pH value there is reduced by about one pH unit. For each H2O molecule formed, around 10 H ions are pumped into the intermembrane space. If the inner membrane is intact, then generally only ATP synthase (see p. 142) can allow protons to flow back into the matrix. This is the basis for the coupling of electron transport to ATP synthesis, which is important for regulation purposes (see p. 144). 

From the quinones, the electron is transferred to plastocyanin and then to cytochrome bf. The two H+ ions (protons) left behind remain in the thylakoid lumen. As the electrons move down this electron transport chain, protons are pumped into the thylakoid lumen. Eventually the transported electron is given up to the oxidized P700 chlorophyll of Photosystem I. 

As electrons are transferred to 02 via the electron transport chain, protons are pumped from the mitochondrial interior into its surroundings, creating a... 

Matile reported poor bilayer solubility of rigid-rod 9 so tackled this problem by incorporating lateral propylene side chains.35c This was expected to increase lipophilicity and also to improve the flexibility of the hydroxyl groups thus facilitating proton transport by the HBC mechanism. The structural modifications did not appear to have a detrimental effect on the active structure and increased ion flux rates were seen for the propylene-substituted oligo(phenylenes). 

The glutamic acid residue renders this compound soluble in alkaline media stacking to form nanotubes occurs after acidification (Scheme 1). The more hydrophobic side chains in cyclo[-(Trp-D-Leu)3-Gln-D-Leu-] even enabled the construction of a transmembrane ion channel with a proton transport activity similar to that of gramicidin A or amphotericine B 6]. Measurements of singlechannel conductivity showed fast transport of sodium and potassium ions the channels pore diameter of 7.5 A led to weak potassium selec-tiv-ity [7]. 

The stoichiometry of protons translocated per ATP formed (H /ATP), the related ratio of protons transported into the thylakoid per electron flowing through the chain (H /e") and the resulting ratio ATP/2 e are still controversial. As the assimilation of CO2 requires 3 ATP and 2 NADPH per CO2 assimilated in the plants utilizing the Calvin cycle (the ATP requirement is 5 molecules/C02 in C4 plants), additional light quanta are necessary if the ratio ATP/NADPH (or ATP/2 e ) is lower than 1.5, to produce ATP in the amount needed. This could be provided by cyclic photophosphorylation or the phosphorylation coupled to the Meh-ler reaction (reoxidation by oxygen of the reduced acceptors of PS I). 

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