The apparent non-linearity of the relationship between the rate of respiration and the protonmotive force of mitochondria can be explained by heterogeneity of mitochondrial preparations.
The apparent non-linear relationship between the rate of respiration and the protonmotive force in mitochondria under resting state conditions is an observation which has led to concepts such as non-chute characteristics of the proton leak through the mitochondrial membrane, or a slippage of proton pumps. We propose that this non-linearity may be a consequence of a heterogeneity of isolated mitochondria concerning the degree of coupling, since a small proportion of totally uncoupled, or loosely coupled, organelles may considerably contribute to the total respiration but not, or only slightly, to the protonmotive force. This hypothesis is supported by a fairly good fitting of computed relationships with those determined experimentally.
Duszyński
J
J
Wojtczak
L
L
D000818:Animals; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004579:Electron Transport; D007700:Kinetics; D008433:Mathematics; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats
D011522:Protons