A cation-anion-nonelectrolyte pump

A simple universal mechanism of use and conservation of energy: its application to movements of ions and other materials across cell, mitochondrial and other membranes and to oxidative phosphorylation

A single simple mechanism by which all cells might both use energy to drive active transport to all solutes and also conserve energy in the form of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) is descirbed. The basic assumption is that injection of energy results in a conformational change of the membrane which both generates transient highly-ordered water structures on its inside surface and changes membrane permeability. Ordered water is propagated through the cell by means of cooperative interactions with proteins, so that during the ordered period intracellular water is incompatible with small cations which require strong primary hydration, but has enhanced affinity for water-structure-breaking solutes. In animal cells cytoplasmic water is ordered by the activity of the plasma-membrane-bound transport ATPases. In mitochondria and bacteria the state of ordered water is identified with the energised state, which can be generated either by passage of electrons down the electron chain, or by ATPase activity. The mechanism is shown to be consistent with the observed transport activities of mitochondria and bacteria, and also provides a simple direct explanation of oxidative phosphorylation.

The sodium pump: a ghost story

Evidence that the sodium plus potassium activated adenosinetriphosphatase ((Na + K)-ATPase) is present and functions normally in a red blood cell ghost is summarised. The case is then argued that since ghost move neither sodium nor potassium against an electrochemical gradient, the (Na+ + K)-ATPase is not in itself sufficient to generate transmembrane gradients of sodium and potassium ions. If it is not sufficient in ghost, then it cannot be sufficient in intact cells, but most somehow work co-operatively with the cytoplasm. An alternative hypothesis to that of carrier-mediated transported is then proposed, and shown to be consistent with data on intact cells, membrane homogenates, ghosts, and membrane vesicles derived from bacteria.