7.3 Fluctuations of the Proton-Electromotive
113
7.3 Fluctuations of the Proton-Electromotive
In order to determine the fluctuations of the P MF across the I MM we need to
know the susceptibility, α(ω), of the system comprised by the following elements
(see Fig. 7.1):
(1) The inner mithocondrial membrane with its associated resistance and capacitance.
(2) The proton buffer compartment associated with the intermembrane fluid.
(3) The access resistance between the two first elements.
In doing the above associations we can resemble the system to a set of electrical
resistors and capacitors. The I MM and its surrounding solutions is represented by
the membrane capacitor, C m . The conductive pathways across the I MM which
include the pump channel and other leaks (including decouplers) are collectively
represented by the term R m . The buffering capacity of the intermembrane fluid is
represented by an electrical equivalent (calculated below) defined as C buff er = C b .
This compartment is electrically connected to the I MM by an access resistance R a .
In this way, the relation between the Fourier components of the fluctuational
charge, q ω , and the corresponding components of the proton-electromotive force at
that frequency, (P MF ) ω , is (see for instance Procopio and Fornés [3]):
Fig. 7.1 Diagram showing the mitochondrial membrane and electrical equivalent
113
7.3 Fluctuations of the Proton-Electromotive
In order to determine the fluctuations of the P MF across the I MM we need to
know the susceptibility, α(ω), of the system comprised by the following elements
(see Fig. 7.1):
(1) The inner mithocondrial membrane with its associated resistance and capacitance.
(2) The proton buffer compartment associated with the intermembrane fluid.
(3) The access resistance between the two first elements.
In doing the above associations we can resemble the system to a set of electrical
resistors and capacitors. The I MM and its surrounding solutions is represented by
the membrane capacitor, C m . The conductive pathways across the I MM which
include the pump channel and other leaks (including decouplers) are collectively
represented by the term R m . The buffering capacity of the intermembrane fluid is
represented by an electrical equivalent (calculated below) defined as C buff er = C b .
This compartment is electrically connected to the I MM by an access resistance R a .
In this way, the relation between the Fourier components of the fluctuational
charge, q ω , and the corresponding components of the proton-electromotive force at
that frequency, (P MF ) ω , is (see for instance Procopio and Fornés [3]):
Fig. 7.1 Diagram showing the mitochondrial membrane and electrical equivalent