[Role of intermembrane electrical fields in electron and proton transport along the respiratory chain of mitochondria].

Charged particles (electrons and protons) transport in the respiratory chain of mitochondria in the process of oxidative phosphorylation is considered. It is shown that no kinetic difficulties appear in such transport (including proton transport against the mean field of the membrane) because the free energy of redox processes with participation of cytochrome may be used for charge separation and formation of protons in the region of internal fields. These fields arise from separation of charges in heme and depend on the orientation of the heme plane in respect to the membrane surface, and they cause the initial stages of proton transport in the direction necessary for oxidative phosphorylation. It is also shown that conformation changes of the albumin chains which accompany reduction and oxidation of cytochromes determine the transport of charges along the respiratory chain.