title: Detection of the local H+ gradients on the internal mitochondrial membrane.
abstract: Respiration-dependent responses of a pH probe (fluorescein isothiocyanate, FITC), covalently bound to the membrane proteins of mitochondria and submitochondrial particles (SMP) have been studied. A spectral shift indicating FITC deprotonation was observed when respiration was activated in coupled mitochondria. Such a response was increased by valinomycin and reduced by uncoupler. Some FITC deprotonation was detected in the presence of excess of an uncoupler, but the response was smaller and insensitive to valinomycin. FITC deprotonation was also observed in submitochondrial particles after succinate addition. In this case it was not affected by uncoupler. Increase in the buffer concentration was found to (i) decrease the FITC response and (ii) increase the rate of uncoupled respiration in both mitochondria and submitochondrial particles. The results are consistent with the assumption that respiration initiates appearance of local H+ activity gradients on the inner side of the internal mitochondrial membrane during the steady-state H+ pumping. We suggest that the formation of this gradient is due to kinetic barrier to proton transfer from the bulk phase to the respiratory proton pump vicinity.
authors.affiliation: A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Russia.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Krasinskaya
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lapin
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Yaguzhinsky
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000378:metabolism*; D006321:Heart; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008099:Liver; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D010539:Permeability; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000378:metabolism; D011522:Protons; D051381:Rats; D013367:Submitochondrial Particles / Q000378:metabolism; D019802:Succinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014634:Valinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017494:Proton Pumps; D011522:Protons; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D000096:Acetone; D014634:Valinomycin; D002259:Carbonyl Cyanide p-Trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone; D019802:Succinic Acid; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D011188:Potassium