How ATP is produced in the Mitochondria and the benefit of Molecular Hydrogen

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)?is often described as the energy currency of life, and every cell needs to produce it to sustain its normal function. ATP is mainly formed into two cell compartments the cytoplasm periphery adjacent to the cell membrane and the mitochondria generally situated closer to the nucleus and the reticulum endoplasmic. While peripherical ATP production uses aerobic glycolysis and provides a fast response to rapid change in ATP demand, the mitochondria provide a large amount of ATP and is less sensitive to quick changes of demand. They can be described as satisfying the base-load demand. Interestingly, manipulation of peripherical ATP demand, for example, by inhibition of Na+/K+ membrane pump, translates into a decrease in glycolysis, while manipulation macromolecule synthesis translates into changes in respiration rate and thus changes in ATP by the mitochondria.

The mitochondrion is a cell organelle enclosed by a double membrane – an outer membrane and an inner membrane – separated by the intermembrane space. It is on the inner membrane surrounding the DNA containing matrix that are localised the respiratory complexes responsible for ATP production. The respiratory chain comprises five protein complexes, Complex I, II, III, IV and V. The general purpose of the respiratory chain is to pump protons (H+) from the matrix to the intermembrane space, resulting in a larger concentration of H+?(Hydrogen ions) in the intermembrane space than in the matrix, so in creating a chemical and an electrical gradient. The creation of this gradient will provide the energy necessary for the synthesis of ATP by the ATP synthetase (complex V) following the terminal electron acceptor role of Oxygen in complex IV. The re-entry in the matrix of 3-4 moles of H+?at complex V, converts into the production of one mole of ATP. The motrice force necessary to pump protons across the membrane is provided by electron transfer.

Regardless of how H2 participates in the respiratory chain, it is demonstrated that H2 supplementation translates into more than a 50% per min increase in ATP production by the mitochondria11, as well as the significant reduction of superoxide at the same site. The significant reduction of superoxide production in the matrix by complex I, represents enormous biological benefit to the mitochondria. Furthermore, the ATP increase appears partially a least, to be uncoupled from nutrient intake. An increase in ATP production by the mitochondria following H2 supplementation, means that cells can divert the nutrients not used to produce energy, into the production of the building blocks of the cells.

Read more