Solution of the problem of energy coupling in terms of chemiosmotic theory

The present state of the chemiosmotic hypothesis of oxidative phosphorylation is considered. It is pointed out that the available data testify to the validity of the following postulates of this hypothesis: (1) Energization of coupling membranes results in formation of a transmembrane electric potential and/or a pH difference whose values prove to be of the same order of magnitude as standard free energy of ATP hydrolysis. (2) The redox chain can generate a membrane potential independently of whether or not high-energy intermediates are formed. (3) ATPase can generate a membrane potential independently of whether or not mechanisms of electron transfer via coupling sites are operative. (4) Energy accumulated in the form of transmembrane electric and osmotic gradients can be utilized for ATP synthesis (“ion transfer phosphorylation”).