Directional Proton Transfer in Membrane Proteins Achieved through Protonated Protein‐Bound Water Molecules: A Proton Diode

Abstract

While proton transfer in liquid water is random, membrane proteins creating the proton gradient for ATP synthesis perform a directional proton transfer via protein-bound protonated water molecules. This was shown in bacteriorhodopsin by a combination of time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics simulations. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.