On Cells and Pumping Hydrogen

[Dimitri]

I'm trying to prove to my professor that the reason why cells pump hydrogen ions out (as in proton pumps) to acquire nutrients and what not outside the cell membrane is because it takes less energy to do so, and our cells are programmed to conserve as much energy as we can.

so im trying to name other reaosns for cells to pump out hydrogen... because if I can name several, then it would prove that it saves energy as opposed to creating specific pumps or protein receptors for each.

i've thought of one, osmotic balance. anyone else know of others?

thanks.

[mith]

I believe that hydrogen ion is an electron which is electricity. I'm thinking electro-gradient. Dunno what the right term for it is.

[Dimitri]

Yeah electrochemical gradient... can anyone else think about of other purposes of releasing hydrogen from inside a cell?

hmm... this seems to be a harder task than what i thought...

[mith]

How do you mean save energy anyway? I mean if it pumps, it uses energy. And what are you comparing it to?

[Carin]

proton pumps are used in photosynthesis and respiration to drive ATP Synthase enzyme to make ATP (ENERGY!!) to be used in biochemical pathway down the line. In photosynthesis to store energy in chemical bonds in respiration to release energy from bonds

[RobJim]

I believe that hydrogen ion is an electron which is electricity. I'm thinking electro-gradient. Dunno what the right term for it is.

Hydrogen ions are protons, not electrons.

[mith]

A H+ is a proton, but isn't a H- an electron?

[RobJim]

H- is a proton with two electrons. It's not called a hydrogen ion; it's name is the hydride ion.

[mith]

thx for the clarification.

[2810712]

I'm trying to prove to my professor that the reason why cells pump hydrogen ions out (as in proton pumps) to acquire nutrients and what not outside the cell membrane is because it takes less energy to do so, and our cells are programmed to conserve as much energy as we can.

so im trying to name other reaosns for cells to pump out hydrogen... because if I can name several, then it would prove that it saves energy as opposed to creating specific pumps or protein receptors for each.

i've thought of one, osmotic balance. anyone else know of others?


thanks.
-Dimitri
Yeah , are you talking about those microbes which pump H+ out the cell to get nutrients ?... listen everybody , Dimitri is not talking about those H+ pumps in the chloroplast or mitochondria , its about those in the plasmalemma, M I right D.?

In such a case maintaining pH of the cell fluid may also be the function ,
Also, If something does many functions it doesn't mean that it saves energy...

hrushikesh