Membranes proton transport

Oxidase Control of Plasma Membrane Proton Transport... 

Keywords Fuel cell Heteropoly acid membrane Proton transport... 

The proposed mechanism involves two main aspects. First, the trans-membrane concentration difference of H20-H+ determines the direction and rate of the ballistic proton flux and the corresponding amount of ATP synthesis or hydrolysis. Second, in the direction of ATP synthesis, a threshold electric potential difference is obligatory for compensation of a certain dissipation of the proton s kinetic energy, (e.g. with a total energy of 0.5 proton volt, 0.1 volt compensates for 20% loss). Thus, the ballistic proton mechanism elucidates the thermodynamic concept of a proton-motiveforce in the chemiosmotic hypothesis [42, 43]. It accounts quantitatively for the elementary energetic event it bypasses the problem of trans-membrane proton transportation and it differentiates between independent roles of chemical potential and electrical potential of H20-Fi+ across the membrane [44]. 

Marrink, S.J., Jahnig, F., Berendsen, H.J.C. Proton transport across transient single-file water pores in a lipid membrane studied by molecular dynamics simulations. Biophys. J. 71 (1996) 632-647. 

Traditionally, the electron and proton transport pathways of photosynthetic membranes (33) have been represented as a "Z" rotated 90° to the left with noncycHc electron flow from left to right and PSII on the left-most and PSI on the right-most vertical in that orientation (25,34). Other orientations and more complex graphical representations have been used to depict electron transport (29) or the sequence and redox midpoint potentials of the electron carriers. As elucidation of photosynthetic membrane architecture and electron pathways has progressed, PSI has come to be placed on the left as the "Z" convention is being abandoned. Figure 1 describes the orientation in the thylakoid membrane of the components of PSI and PSII with noncycHc electron flow from right to left. 

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. 

As with Complex 1, passage of electrons through the Q cycle of Complex 111 is accompanied by proton transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The postulated pathway for electrons in this system is shown in Figure 21.12. A large pool of UQ and UQHg exists in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The Q cycle is initiated when a molecule of UQHg from this pool diffuses to a site (called Q, ) on Complex 111 near the cytosolic face of the membrane. 

The reduction of oxygen in Complex IV is accompanied by transport of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Transfer of four electrons through this complex drives the transport of approximately four protons. The mechanism of proton transport is unknown but is thought to involve the steps from state P to state O (Figure 21.20). Four protons are taken up on the matrix side for every two protons transported to the cytoplasm (see Figure 21.17). 

FIGURE 21.21 A model for the electron transport pathway in the mitochondrial inner membrane. UQ/UQH9 and cytochrome e are mobile electron carriers and function by transferring electrons between the complexes. The proton transport driven by Complexes I, III, and IV is indicated. 

The oxidation of reduced jS-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by quinone derivatives (Q) by has been investigated extensively, since the reaction was considered to be essential in the proton transport and the energy accumulation occurring at the mitochondrial inner membrane [2]. However, most of fundamental work in this field has been done in homogeneous solutions [48-52] though the reaction in living bodies has been believed to proceed at the solution membrane interface. 

The famous model for the oxidation of NADH coupled with the proton transport in a mitochondria is the Q cycle [53], as follows NADH in the aqueous solution (matrix) is oxidized to NAD by Q in the membrane producing hydroquinone (QH2). 

Methods similar to those discussed in this chapter have been applied to determine free energies of activation in enzyme kinetics and quantum effects on proton transport. They hold promise to be coupled with QM/MM and ab initio simulations to compute accurate estimates of nulcear quantum effects on rate constants in TST and proton transport rates through membranes. 

Transport proteins (channels) for chloride and zinc Vacuolar proton pump Components of synaptic vesicles to mediate the chloride flux for glutamate uptake and zinc uptake in most synaptic vesicles. Zinc transporter is homologous to endosomal and plasma membrane zinc transporters chloride transporters remain to be identified. Protein complex of more than 12 subunits. Constitutes the largest component of synaptic vesicles and establishes... 

Taking the rate limiting step in the electron transport chain to be trans-membrane proton translocation, which occurs about five times per sulfate consumed (Rabus et al., 2006), the average stoichiometric number x (entered into REACT as to = 1/x) for Reaction 18.7 is five. Sulfate reducers conserve about 45 kJ mol-1 of sulfate consumed (Qusheng Jin, unpublished data), so we set AGp to this value and m to one. From equations 18.12 and 18.14, then, we can write... 

Pethig, R. (1985). Ion, electron, and proton transport in membranes a review of the physical processes involved. In Modern Bioelectrochemistry, eds. Gutmann, F. and Keyzer, H., Plenum, New York, pp. 199-239. 

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. 

Based on GebeTs calculations for Nafion (where lEC = 0.91 meq/g),i isolated spheres of ionic clusters in the dry state have diameters of 15 A and an intercluster spacing of 27 A. Because the spheres are isolated, proton transport through the membrane is severely impeded and thus low levels of conductivity are observed for a dry membrane. As water content increases, the isolated ionic clusters begin to swell until, at X, > 0.2, the percolation threshold is reached. This significant point represents the point at which connections or channels are now formed between the previously isolated ionic clusters and leads to a concomitant sharp increase in the observed level of proton conductivity. 

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