A Loose Coupling Mechanism of Synthesis of ATP by Proton Flux in the Molecular Machine of Living Cells

Abstract

A loose coupling mechanism is proposed for the molecular machine of living cells which performs the synthesis of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate by a proton flux across the membrane. The basic assumption is that a torque or rotational movement is produced in protein molecules by the proton flux and the ATP synthesis is promoted by the torque or rotational movement in the molecules. The first process is carried out by a mechanism similar to the bacterial flagellar motor where the coupling between the flow of protons and the rotation of the motor is loose. A structural model for the second process is also presented. The threshold of the potential difference of proton for the ATP synthesis can be low and the number of protons to synthesize one ATP molecule is not an integer but a variable number.