Oxidative Phosphorylation\nDoes Not Violate the Second\nLaw of Thermodynamics

In a recent series of papers, James W. Lee reported that\nmitochondrial\noxidative phosphorylation violates the second law of thermodynamics\nand that it is allowed to do so because it is a “Type-B”\nprocess that features lateral and longitudinal membrane asymmetry.\nWe show here that these contentions are based on problematic interpretations\nof the literature. More reliable values of Δ<i>G</i><sub>redox</sub> and Δ<i>G</i><sub>ATP synthesis</sub> show that the second law is not violated. More recent reports on\nthe structures of the redox-driven proton pumps (Complexes I, III,\nand IV) suggest that longitudinal membrane asymmetry does not exist.\nFinally, Lee’s predictions for the concentration of protons\nlocalized at the P-side surface of the bioenergetic membrane are likely\nto be much too high due to several errors; thus, his predicted high\nvalues of ΔpH<sub>surface</sub> that violate the second law\nare likely to be wrong. There is currently no strong experimental\nor theoretical evidence to support the contention that oxidative phosphorylation\nviolates the second law of thermodynamics.