WHAT REGULATES RESPIRATION IN MITOCHONDRIA

A (nearly) linear dependence of the respiration rate on a given parame ter value was proposed as the criterion for considering this parameter to be an efficient regulator of respiration in mitochondria. A number of possible candidates was tested using the dynamic model of oxidativ e phosphorylation developed previously, among others ADP, the ATP/ADP ratio, external phosphorylation potential and Atkinson's adenylate ene rgy charge. Only the external phosphorylation potential log(ATP/ADPP- i) was found to fulfil the above-mentioned criterion and thus it was p roposed to be the parameter which 'actually' regulates oxidative phosp horylation in mitochondria.