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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1355–1356Cite as

Proton Motive Force

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Synonyms

Chemiosmotic potential; Electrochemical potential

Keywords

ATP synthase, LUCA, proton gradient, Sodium motive force

Definition

Proton motive force (PMF) is the force that promotes movement of protons across membranes downhill the electrochemical potential.

Overview

A difference of solute concentration between two compartments separated by a biological membrane generates a tendency to equilibrium, which, in the case of protons, is called proton motive force (PMF). This is measured in terms of the potential energy resulting from the difference in concentration between the two compartments. With a charged solute, the potential has two components: the chemical (concentration) and the electrical potentials, (Fig. 1) thus, it is named electrochemical potential.

Proton Motive Force. Figure 1
figure 1643

Proton gradients and proton motive force

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References and Further Reading

  • Baker-Austin C, Dopson M (2007) Life in acid: pH homeostasis in acidophiles. Trends Microbiol 15:165–171

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  • Daniel H, Spanier B, Kottra G, Weitz D (2006) From bacteria to man: archaic proton-dependent peptide transporters at work. Physiology (Bethesda) 21:93–102

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  • Harris DA (1995) Bioenergetics at a glance: an illustrated introduction. Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford

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  • Lane N, Allen JF, Martin W (2010) How did LUCA make a living? Chemiosmosis in the origin of life. BioEssays. doi: 10.1002/bies.200900131

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  • Nicholls DG, Ferguson SJ (2002) Bioenergetics 3. Academic, London

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  • Papa S, Lorusso M, Di Paola M (2006) Cooperativity and flexibility of the protonmotive activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain. Biochim Biophys Acta 1757:428–436

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain

    Prof. José Pascual Abad

Authors
  1. Prof. José Pascual Abad
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Pascual Abad .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Astrophysicist, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux, BP 89, 33270, Floirac, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Departamento de Planetología y Habitabilidad Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Campus Cantoblanco, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Prof. Ricardo Amils

  3. Department of Astrophysics, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC) Ctra de Ajalvir km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC, 20015, USA

    Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II

  5. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts Lederle Graduate Research, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-9305, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. GEOTOP & Départment des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, CP 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Prof. Daniele L. Pinti

  7. Astrobiology, CNES/DSP/EU, 2 place Maurice-Quentin, 75039, Paris, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Abad, J.P. (2011). Proton Motive Force. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_141

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