[Potential difference across subcellular particle membranes. I. Chemiosmotic and chemielectric mechanism of generation]

Abstract

Transformation of light energy, of substrate oxidation and ATP hydrolysis energy into electric form during both oxidative and photo-phosphorylation can be described not only by means of chemiosmotic but also by chemielectric hypothesis. The latter hypothesis supposes, that dehydrated protons are taken up by electrostatic forces into the inner part of the membrane. Protons move into the input channels following electrons driven by chemical forces. Inside the membrane H+-ions are released into the output channels when electrons are transferred to the next electron carriers. Output H+-channels eject protons towards the other side of the membrane along the gradient of rising polarization of the channels. The inner resistance of chemielectric potential generators is lower than that of chemiosmotic one. A model of chemielectric mechanism is proposed. According to this mechanism electrons driving protons move along nonheme iron proteins and H+-ions are released into the output channels from semiquinones and hydroquinones.