Effect of pH on Mitochondria

1. If you isolate mitochondria and place them in buffer with a low pH, they begin to manufacture ATP. Why?

Permeability of outer membrane - Mitochondrial production of ATP requires a concentration gradient of H+, with a high concentration at the inter membrane space and a low concentration in the matrix. The inner membrane is impermeable to H+, but the outer membrane of the mitochondria will allow H+ to pass through.

Thus, placing mitochondria in a low pH buffer produces a H+ gradient that can generate ATP through ATP synthetase.

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