Reinterpretation of Jagendorf's classic experiment on photophosphorylation

Abstract

Photophosphorylation is an anoxygenic process of ATP production, and here we provide relevant insights from recent literature with respect to multiple observations from classical experiments with chloroplasts, archaeal cells, or reconstituted vesicles. Since new and significant information on photophosphorylation has been accumulated, there is a strong necessity to reevaluate the experimental data obtained by Jagendorf, Racker, and other researchers, which were interpreted exclusively in light of the chemiosmotic hypothesis developed by Peter Mitchell. Although unsupported experimentally, the chemiosmotic hypothesis had the merit of proposing a molecular mechanism for the production of ATP molecules in mitochondria, which stimulated further biochemical research. Meanwhile, improved alternatives to the chemiosmotic concept have been advanced, as well as new theories based on recent experimental data. Therefore, it is desirable to carefully evaluate the advantages and drawbacks of these approaches.