pH in mitochondria

[Creightonite]

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Is it basic in mito matrix? and acidic in the cristae space?

 

[Yoyomama88]

i think its the other way around ...inside the matrix membrane there is a lot of H+, thus very low ph...and outside the matrix...the space between the matrix membrane and mitochondrial membrane, there is low H+, and a high PH...Essentially the high to low gradient is energetically favorable and this provides the energy to make ATP which is unfavorable if im not mistaken.. electrons get pushed into the matrix in the ETC chain in exchange for the protons which are pumped out...I could be wrong about that tho.

 

[mdgolfer84]

I don't know if you would call it basic... but protons are being constantly pumped into the intermembrane space causing the pH to decrease. This allows for a high proton gradient which allows the ATP synthesis.

I would call matrix more basic than the intermembrane space. But not sure if it is actually basic.

There is a nice diagram here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_phosphorylation

You can see that the intermembrane space is accumulating protons.

 

[axp107]

I don't know if you would call it basic... but protons are being constantly pumped into the intermembrane space causing the pH to decrease. This allows for a high proton gradient which allows the ATP synthesis.

I would call matrix more basic than the intermembrane space. But not sure if it is actually basic.

There is a nice diagram here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_phosphorylation

You can see that the intermembrane space is accumulating protons.

yeah I agree.. intermembrane space is acidic... but the matrix is more "basic"