Meeting Abstract
The proton motive force is the result of the inner mitochondrial membrane’s electrochemical gradient. This functions by the movement of protons and electrons through a series of electron carrier proteins that provide power for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The substances being examined in cauliflower mitochondrial isolates, are 2, 4 Dinitrophenol (DNP), a known proton motive force uncoupler, and vespa amino acid mixture (VAAM), a commercially available sports drink derived from Asian giant hornets, a potential coupler. Cauliflower mitochondria were exposed to these substances in three different concentrations (0.3% each, 0.03% each, 0.003% each) to determine if they counteract each other’s effects on oxidative phosphorylation. The data collected showed that at high concentrations of VAAM there was an increase in oxidative phosphorylation that led to cellular deterioration even if DNP was present; while at low concentrations the DNP counteracted VAAM allowing the mitochondria to maintain the proton motive force. By measuring the pH levels and ATP production of each treatment group over time, we concluded that VAAM enhanced proton transport which translated into increased ATP production while DNP did not. Mitochondria exposed to 0.003% DNP and VAAM produced more ATP than the mitochondria in the control, but at higher concentrations 0.03% and 0.3% DNP and VAAM, mitochondria produced less ATP than the mitochondria in the control. This suggests that VAAM and DNP affect either the same part of oxidative phosphorylation or closely related aspects.
