Mitochondrial structure and the reaction products generated inside the matrix are critical for generating stores of energy. Answer the following questions based on what you know about mitochondrial structure and processes
A. The gradients used to generate ATP are maintained across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Why don't we observe a similar gradient generation across the outer mitochondrial membrane?
B. The proton-motive force created by the electrochemical proton gradient is the source of free energy utilized in ATP formation. Describe the two components contributing to the total proton-motive force.
A. The outer mitochondrial membrane contains large, channel-forming proteins called porins, which makes this membrane permeable to small molecules. Protons, other ions, nucleotides, and many other small molecules flow freely across this membrane, making it impossible to establish a gradient of any of these molecules on either side of this membrane.
B. One component of the proton-motive force is the concentration gradient of protons (or pH gradient) across the membrane. This pH gradient makes it energetically favorable for protons to flow back into the matrix. A second component of the proton-motive force is a charge differential across the membrane, referred to as the membrane potential. Because the matrix side of the membrane has a net negative charge, and protons have a positive charge, this component of the proton-motive force also drives the movement of protons back into the matrix.
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