Dr. Hackenbrock plans to expand his biophysical studies on the relationship between diffusion-based collisional interactions and electron transport activities of the redox components in the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. Results reveal that diffusion-based collisions between all redox partners occur with frequencies sufficient to account for the maximum rate of their electron transfers. Dr. Hackenbrock intends to investigate the role of diffusion of the redox components in the control of the rate of maximum and coupled electron transport. A combination of highly technical biophysical approaches will be used including, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, fluorescence polarization, resonance energy transfer, total internal reflection fluorescence and digitized video and nanovid microscopy. The transfer of electrons in membranes is preceded by random, diffusion-based collisions between all redox partners in a highly fluid membrane environment. All redox components are highly mobile diffusants and suggest that such diffusion is rate limiting for maximum electron transport.***//
