On the role of the membrane proton conductance in the relationship between rate of respiration and protonmotive force.

The rate of respiration in mitochondria is not a unique function of the protonmotive force, depending on whether the protonmotive force is varied by addition of ADP or uncouplers. This result has been generally considered to contradict the chemiosmotic theory. Recently, O'Shea & Chappell [Biochem. J. (1984) 219, 401-404] claimed that this observation can be reconciled with the chemiosmotic theory, provided only that the proton conductance of the membrane is different in the presence of ADP or uncouplers. This hypothesis is shown here to be necessary but not sufficient to account for the experimental data and the reason for the contradiction between this recent interpretation and earlier interpretations is pointed out.