Flux gradients, activation analysis

Our previous analysis (McCarty, Portis, 1976 Davenport, 1983) of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis in relation to proton fluxes provided evidence that the common link between electron transport and ATP synthesis in the steady state is a proton activity gradient (ApH). From this analysis, we also derived a maximal phosphorylation efficiency (P/c2)max close to 4/3. The (P/c2)niax equivalent to 2 (H+/e ) / (H+/ATP), where H+/e is the ratio of protons appearing in the thylakoid interior to electrons transferred and H+/ATP is the ratio of protons translocated to ATP synthesized. Thus, if the (H+/e ) is 2, (H" /ATP) is three. (H+/ATP) ratios of three have been obtained by other methods (Avron, 1978 Hand-garter, Good, 1982). 

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