Forster mechanism of electron-driven proton pump

TL;DR

This paper models mitochondrial proton pumping via a Forster-type energy exchange mechanism, demonstrating how electron-proton Coulomb interactions can drive unidirectional proton flow against electrochemical gradients, with efficiency dependent on cellular conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a simplified physical model of proton pumping based on Forster resonance energy transfer, linking condensed matter physics to biological energy transduction.

Findings

Proton pumping can be explained by resonant electron-proton energy exchange.

Maximum efficiency occurs under physiological temperature and electrochemical conditions.

The model accounts for environmental noise and electrostatic forces affecting the process.

Abstract

We examine a simple model of proton pumping through the inner membrane of mitochondria in the living cell. We demonstrate that the pumping process can be described using approaches of condensed matter physics. In the framework of this model, we show that the resonant F\"orster-type energy exchange due to electron-proton Coulomb interaction can provide an unidirectional flow of protons against an electrochemical proton gradient, thereby accomplishing proton pumping. The dependence of this effect on temperature as well as electron and proton voltage build-ups are obtained taking into account electrostatic forces and noise in the environment. We find that the proton pump works with maximum efficiency in the range of temperatures and transmembrane electrochemical potentials which correspond to the parameters of living cells.