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Proton migration along the membrane surface and retarded surface to bulk transfer

Nature volume 370, pages 379–382 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

SINCE the proposal of the chemiosmotic theory1 there has been a continuing debate about how protons that have been pumped across membranes reach another membrane protein that utilizes the established pH gradient. Evidence has been gathered in favour of a 'delocalized' theory, in which the pumped protons equilibrate with the aqueous bulk phase before being consumed, and a 'localized' one, in which protons move exclusively along the membrane surface2,3. We report here that after proton release by an integral membrane protein, long-range proton transfer along the membrane surface is faster than proton exchange with the bulk water phase. The rate of lateral proton diffusion can be calculated by considering the buffer capacity of the membrane surface. Our results suggest that protons can efficiently diffuse along the membrane surface between a source and a sink (for example H+-ATP synthase) without dissipation losses into the aqueous bulk.

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Author notes

  1. Joachim Heberle

    Present address: Forschungszentrum Jülich, IBI-2, D-52425, Jülich, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hahn-Meitner-lnstitut, NE, Glienicker Strasse 100, D-14109, Berlin, Germany

    Joachim Heberle

  2. MPI für Biochemie, Am Klopferspitz 18a, D-82152, Martinsried, Germany

    Jens Riesle, Gerd Thiedemann, Dieter Oesterhelt & Norbert A. Dencher

  3. TH Darmstadt, Institut für Biochemie, Petersenstrasse 22, D-64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Norbert A. Dencher

Authors
  1. Joachim Heberle
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  2. Jens Riesle
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  3. Gerd Thiedemann
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  4. Dieter Oesterhelt
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  5. Norbert A. Dencher
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Heberle, J., Riesle, J., Thiedemann, G. et al. Proton migration along the membrane surface and retarded surface to bulk transfer. Nature 370, 379–382 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/370379a0

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