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Lee's transient protonic capacitor cannot explain the surface proton current observed in bacteriorhodopsin purple membranes.

Authors :
Silverstein TP
Source :
Biophysical chemistry [Biophys Chem] 2023 Oct; Vol. 301, pp. 107096. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 15.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Recently in this Journal, James Lee employed his transmembrane electrostatically localized proton (TELP) hypothesis and the notion of a transient protonic capacitor to explain the force holding protons at the surface of bacteriorhodopsin purple membrane fragments. Here we show that purple membrane fragments cannot maintain the requisite transient non-zero transmembrane potential, and even if they could, it would not support the surface proton current moving from the P side to the N side that was reported by Heberle et al. (Nature, 1994). Currently accepted models explain the force keeping protons at the membrane surface by invoking the unusual structure of water at the interface which serves to stabilize the proton (energy well) and/or raise the activation ∆G‡ (energy barrier) for release to the bulk phase. Any future invocations of TELP should be required to include experimental measurements carried out at the surfaces of lipid bilayer membranes and/or biological membranes.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest, nor any competing financial interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1873-4200
Volume :
301
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Biophysical chemistry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
37604049
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107096