A simple universal mechanism of use and conservation of energy: its application to movements of ions and other materials across cell, mitochondrial and other membranes and to oxidative phosphorylation.
A single simple mechanism by which all cells might both use energy to drive active transport to all solutes and also conserve energy in the form of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) is descirbed. The basic assumption is that injection of energy results in a conformational change of the membrane which both generates transient highly-ordered water structures on its inside surface and changes membrane permeability. Ordered water is propagated through the cell by means of cooperative interactions with proteins, so that during the ordered period intracellular water is incompatible with small cations which require strong primary hydration, but has enhanced affinity for water-structure-breaking solutes. In animal cells cytoplasmic water is ordered by the activity of the plasma-membrane-bound transport ATPases. In mitochondria and bacteria the state of ordered water is identified with the energised state, which can be generated either by passage of electrons down the electron chain, or by ATPase activity. The mechanism is shown to be consistent with the observed transport activities of mitochondria and bacteria, and also provides a simple direct explanation of oxidative phosphorylation.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000838:Anions / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
D000838:Anions; D006859:Hydrogen; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium