BG1131 Molecular Cell Biology for Biomedical Engineers

Homework 4 – Mitochondrial ATP Synthesis

1. 18-1. How many ATPs are synthesized for every cytoplasmic NADH that participates in the
glycerophosphate shuttle in insect flight muscle? How does this compare to the ATP yield when
NADH reducing equivalents are transferred into the matrix via the malate-aspartate shuttle?
(Hint: glycerophosphate shuttle bypasses Complex I)

2. 18-5. Consider the mitochondrial ADP-ATP translocator and the P i-H+ symport protein. (a) How
do the activities of the two transporters affect the electrochemical gradient across the
mitochondrial membrane? (b) What thermodynamic force drives the two transport systems?
(Hint: remember that the net charge of ADP import and ATP export are -3 and -4, respectively)

3. 18-6. Electrons usually flow from a redox center that has more negative ’ to the one with
more positive ’. However, sometimes the reverse happens. Why is it possible for electrons to
flow from a redox center with a more positive ’ to one with a more negative ’ within an
electron-transfer complex?

4. 18-7. Bombarding a suspension of mitochondria with high-frequency sound waves (sonication)

produces submitochondrial particles derived from the inner mitochondrial membrane. These
membranous vesicles seal inside out, so that the intermembrane space of the mitochondrion
becomes the lumen of the submitochondrial particle. (a) Diagram the process of electron
transfer and oxidative phosphorylation in these particles. (b) Assuming all the substrates for
oxidative phosphorylation are present in excess, does ATP synthesis increase or decrease with
an increase in the pH of the fluid in which the submitochondrial particles are suspended?

5. 18-14. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) is a reagent that reacts with Asp or Glu residues.

Explain why the reaction of DCCD with the c subunits of F1F0-ATPase blocks its ATP-synthesizing
activity.