Proton pumping and electron tunneling: physical principles to power the cell

CCNY Data Science, Networks, and Biology Seminar

Time and place

3:30 PM on Thursday, May 4th, 2017; NAC 4/156

Prof. Marilyn Gunner (CCNY Physics)

Abstract

Cells store energy in a proton gradient. Protons are pumped through membrane embedded proteins from the N-side of the membrane, with fewer protons, to the more positive P-side. The energy to build the gradient comes from sunlight in photosynthesis or from energy liberated by redox chemistry such as in the reduction of oxygen in cytochrome c oxidase. The proton gradient fuels the transfer of ions and substrates across the membrane needed for cell signaling and metabolism and the production of ATP, the universal energy currency for biochemical reactions. I will describe the basic rules needed to pump protons, how electron tunneling can be used to carry out reactions to build the gradient and how in F1/FO ATPase the proton gradient is used to fuel mechanical work.