Аннотация:According to our previous investigations [1], under conditions
of low-amplitude mitochondrial swelling (in hypotonic medium,
120 mOsm) electron transport chain and ATPase system operate as
a tightly coupled supercomplex. The temperature-dependent efficiency
of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was measured within
15–36 °С. Abnormally narrow peak of the parameter ADP/O was
detected at 19 ± 1 °С. This finding suggests the existence of highly
organized process that controls ATP synthesis. The effect could not be
explained in terms of classical biochemical kinetics. The temperature
dependence of pyrene-induced quenching of tryptophan fluorescence
in the mitochondrial membrane-bound proteins revealed their conformational
transition observed under the conditions facilitating supercomplex
formation at the same narrow temperature range of 19 ± 2 °С
[2]. This abnormal range of both (functional and structural) temperature
dependencies coincides exactly with the point where the
conversion of two distinct quantum states of water (ortho–para water
differs in their mutual hydrogen spin orientation) is facilitated [3].
These spin-isomers of water were recently discovered experimentally
[4], including a liquid water phase [5]. We explain narrow temperaturedependent
effects as a phenomenon based on strongly different
affinities [6] of ortho–para isomers of water to the proteins involved
in oxidative phosphorylation.