Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2000 Dec;79(6):2785-800.
doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(00)76518-0.

Metabolically derived potential on the outer membrane of mitochondria: a computational model

S V Lemeshko  1 , V V Lemeshko
Affiliations

Metabolically derived potential on the outer membrane of mitochondria: a computational model

S V Lemeshko et al. Biophys J. 2000 Dec.

Abstract

The outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) is permeable to various small substances because of the presence of a voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC). The voltage dependence of VDAC's permeability is puzzling, because the existence of membrane potential on the OMM has never been shown. We propose that steady-state metabolically derived potential (MDP) may be generated on the OMM as the result of the difference in its permeability restriction for various charged metabolites. To demonstrate the possibility of MDP generation, two models were considered: a liposomal model and a simplified cell model with a creatine kinase energy channeling system. Quantitative computational analysis of the simplified cell model shows that a MDP of up to -5 mV, in addition to the Donnan potential, may be generated at high workloads, even if the OMM is highly permeable to small inorganic ions, including potassium. Calculations show that MDP and DeltapH, generated on the OMM, depend on the cytoplasmic pH and energy demand rate. Computational modeling suggests that MDP may be important for cell energy metabolism regulation in multiple ways, including VDAC's permeability modulation and the effect of electrodynamic compartmentation. The osmotic pressure difference between the mitochondrial intermembrane space and the cytoplasm, as related to the electrodynamic compartmentation effects, might explain the morphological changes in mitochondria under intense workloads.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998 Feb 4;243(1):258-63 - PubMed
    1. J Membr Biol. 1997 Jun 1;157(3):271-9 - PubMed
    1. Biophys J. 1998 Aug;75(2):704-13 - PubMed
    1. J Cell Biol. 1998 Sep 7;142(5):1235-43 - PubMed
    1. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1992 Jan 16;1098(2):255-60 - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources