We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Formation mechanism of thermally controlled pH gradients.
- Authors
Matreux, Thomas; Altaner, Bernhard; Raith, Johannes; Braun, Dieter; Mast, Christof B.; Gerland, Ulrich
- Abstract
Spatial proton gradients create energy in biological systems and are likely a driving force for prebiotic systems. Due to the fast diffusion of protons, they are however difficult to create as steady state, unless driven by other non-equilibria such as thermal gradients. Here, we quantitatively predict the heat-flux driven formation of pH gradients for the case of a simple acid-base reaction system. To this end, we (i) establish a theoretical framework that describes the spatial interplay of chemical reactions with thermal convection, thermophoresis, and electrostatic forces by a separation of timescales, and (ii) report quantitative measurements in a purpose-built microfluidic device. We show experimentally that the slope of such pH gradients undergoes pronounced amplitude changes in a concentration-dependent manner and can even be inverted. The predictions of the theoretical framework fully reflect these features and establish an understanding of how naturally occurring non-equilibrium environmental conditions can drive pH gradients. Cells use pH gradients to drive the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but the physicochemical mechanisms that can produce pH gradients in non-equilibrium settings are poorly understood. The authors here theoretically and experimentally investigate the formation of a pH gradient in an acid-base reaction system, driven by a heat flow, providing insights on how crude non-equilibrium systems can feed chemical gradients exploitable by life.
- Subjects
BIOENERGETICS; ELECTROSTATIC separation; ADENOSINE triphosphate; CELL separation; CHEMICAL reactions; BIOLOGICAL systems; MICROFLUIDIC devices
- Publication
Communications Physics, 2023, Vol 6, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2399-3650
- Publication type
Academic Journal
- DOI
10.1038/s42005-023-01126-y