Tracking of proton flow during transition from anaerobiosis to steady state

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Abstract
1. The kinetics of acidification and realkalinization of the matrix after addition of nigericin to respiring and non‐respiring mitochondria, recorded by intramitochondrial pH indicators such as neutral red and 2′,7′‐bis(carboxyethyl)‐5(6)‐carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), is complementary to that recorded by extramitochondrial pH indicators. The extent of acidification decreases with the logarithm of the KCl concentration and is inhibited by Pi and ammonium ions.2. Proton translocation during respiration has been compared with proton extraction from matrix bulk water. During oxygen pulses to EGTA‐untreated mitochondria, BCECF records an extraction of protons from matrix bulk water of about 2–3 nmol H+/mg, reduced to 1–2 nmol H+/mg in EGTA‐treated mitochondria. Since the amount of proton translocation required to achieve steady state is of the order of 6–7 nmol H+/mg, it appears that 75–90% of the protons are not extracted from matrix bulk water. Only a slight response is recorded by neutral red.3. The effect of permeant cations and of uncouplers on the distribution of proton extraction between membrane and matrix bulk water has been studied in presteady state. During Sr2+ uptake, proton extrusion into cytosolic bulk water, as well as proton extraction from matrix bulk water, corresponds almost to 100% of the protons translocated by the redox proton pumps. In the absence of Sr2+, parallel to the disappearance of the proton extrusion in cytosolic bulk water, the proton extraction from matrix bulk water diminishes to about 20% of the proton translocation.4. The mechanism by which divalent cation uptake and protonophoric uncouplers affect the distribution of proton extraction between matrix bulk water and membrane domains and the nature of the membrane domains are discussed.