Intermembrane space
1774422
204958808
2008-04-11T17:34:03Z
CommonsDelinker
2304267
Replacing [[Image:Diagram_of_a_human_mitochondrion.svg]] with [[Image:Diagram_of_an_animal_mitochondrion.svg]] (by [[commons:User:Cecil|Cecil]] because: Was in category "Duplicate", exact duplicate).
[[Image:Diagram_of_an_animal_mitochondrion.svg|thumb|315px|Simplified structure of mitochondrion]]
[[Image:Chloroplast-new.jpg|thumb|315px|Chloroplast]]
The '''intermembrane space''' is the region between the [[inner membrane]] and the [[outer membrane]] of a [[mitochondrion]] or a [[chloroplast]]. The main function of the intermembrane space is [[nucleotide]] [[phosphorylation]].
Channel [[protein]]s called [[Porin (protein)|porin]]s in the [[outer membrane]] allow free movement of [[ion]]s and small [[molecule]]s into the intermembrane space. This means that it is essentially continuous with the [[cytosol]] in terms of the [[solute]]s relevant for the functioning of these [[organelle]]s. [[Enzyme]]s destined for the [[mitochondrial matrix]] or the [[stroma]] can pass through the intermembrane space via transport through [[translocator]]s. These are known as [[translocase]] of the outer mitochondria membrane ([[TOM]]) and [[translocase]] of the inner mitochondrial membrane ([[TIM]]) in [[mitochondrion|mitochondria]] and [[translocase]] of the outer chloroplast membrane (TOC) and [[translocase]] of the inner chloroplast membrane (TIC) in [[chloroplast]]s. It tends to have a low [[pH]] because of the [[proton gradient]] which results when [[proton]]s are pumped from the [[mitochondrial matrix]] into the intermembrane space during [[electron transport]]. The structures responsible for this are [[coenzyme Q]], NADH coenzyme Q [[oxidoreductase]] complex ([[complex I]]), succinate-coenzyme Q [[oxidoreductase]] complex ([[complex II]]), and coenzyme Q-[[cytochrome]] c [[oxidoreductase]] complex ([[complex III]]).
== Intermembrane space of mitochondria ==
:{{Main|Intermembrane space of mitochondria }}
Because of channels in the [[Outer Membrane|outer membrane]] of the mitochondria, the content of the intermembrane space is similar to that of the content of the cytoplasm.
== Intermembrane space of chloroplast ==
The intermembrane space of the [[chloroplast]] is extremely small, somewhere from 10-20 nm thick.
[[Category:Cell anatomy]]
[[de:Intermembranraum]]