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Related Experiment Videos

Protons @ interfaces: implications for biological energy conversion.

Armen Y Mulkidjanian1, Joachim Heberle, Dmitry A Cherepanov

  • 1AN Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. amulkid@uos.de

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 21, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Proton transfer across biological membranes is slowed by an electrostatic barrier at the surface. This barrier affects proton activity, potentially increasing energy for ATP synthesis, especially in alkaliphilic bacteria.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Membrane Biology
  • Electrochemistry

Background:

  • Biological membranes regulate proton gradients essential for cellular energy transduction.
  • The interface between membrane surfaces and aqueous phases presents unique challenges for ion transport.
  • Understanding proton transfer dynamics is crucial for comprehending energy conversion processes like ATP synthesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the anisotropy of proton transfer at biological membrane surfaces.
  • To elucidate the role of electrostatic interactions and interfacial barriers in proton exchange.
  • To explore the implications of surface proton dynamics for cellular energy transduction.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of pulsed experimental data involving light-triggered enzymes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Evaluation of electrostatic properties of water at charged membrane interfaces.
  • Examination of structural features of proton-translocating enzymes.

    • Main Results:

    • Proton exchange between membrane surface and bulk water is slow (~1 ms) due to an electrostatic barrier, potentially caused by water polarization at negatively charged surfaces.
    • Proton diffusion along the membrane surface is rapid (microseconds), facilitated by hydrogen-bonded networks acting as proton sponges.
    • The interfacial barrier retards surface-bulk proton exchange more than lateral diffusion, leading to surface proton activity deviations.

    Conclusions:

    • An electrostatic interfacial barrier significantly influences proton transfer kinetics at membrane surfaces.
    • Surface proton dynamics, including rapid lateral diffusion and slower exchange with bulk water, are critical for energy transduction.
    • Deviations in surface proton activity can enhance the driving force for ATP synthesis, particularly in specific bacterial environments like alkaliphilic bacteria.