Experiments suggest a 10°C temperature difference between the mitochondrion and its surroundings in millionfold disagreement with steady-state theoretical estimates. Both experiment theory appear to be solidly founded, so we have paradox. ATP synthase is modelled as modified Feynman ratchet engine coupling two separate heat baths. The paradox resolved by understanding that appearance of steady ...

In a recent paper (2) we postulated that during oxidative phosphorylation by isolated mitochondria the turnover rates of the adenine nucleotides within the mitochondria are much more rapid than their passage in and out of the mitochondria. This paper presents evidence to confirm that hypothesis by using radioactivity measurements as a more direct method of determining turnover and diffusion. Th...