Coupling Efficiency

Author: Robert Jacobs

Tightly Coupled mitochondria generate the maximum amount of ATP with the minimum amount of caloric intake and subsequent heat produced.  A loosely coupled haplotype needs the maximum amount of calories to generate the maximum amount of ATP and in turn generates more heat.  Coupling efficiency is an important consideration, whether you are counting calories or not because it effects the amount of ATP yield that an individual will get from their food.  

We know that low level light therapy (LLLT) or red light therapy increases ATP yield from a mitochondria.  How does it do this? By dissociating nitric oxide from complex 4 (cytochrome c oxidase) of the electron transport chain.  This increases the metabolic water made by the mitochondria.  Red Light also increases the spin rate of the F0 rotating head of ATP Synthase (complex 5 of the ETC).  The F0 head rotates at a rate of 9,000 RPM’s.  As this spin rate is increased, more protons flow through ATP Synthase increasing ATP yield.

In strong sunlight we see a slower electron flow down the ETC which means less electrons are flowing (think about traffic on the interstate).  Less cars on the road = less traffic jams. This slower electron flow results in a weaker electrical current/field within the mitochondria and in turn the rotating head of the ATP Synthase protein spins slower.  However, mother nature built in a great solution to this problem.  Within the ATP Synthase protein are red light chromophores.  This means that ATP synthase absorbs red light, and that energy is then transferred to increase the spin rate, producing more ATP.  Producing more ATP with less traffic on the road cuts down on the waste product of this energy metabolism too.  The waste product here is known as reactive oxygen species.

How does all this matter to you?  Foods grown in high UV light/strong sunlight are less electron dense because their electrons carry more photonic energy.  This is coupled with an increased ATP spin rate, meaning the system require less of electrons to generate more ATP.  Coupling efficiency matters a great deal, whether you are counting calories or not.

Robert Jacobs
USAW, PICP, BioSignature, Metabolic Analytics, NKT, Nike-SPARQ, NASM-PES, CES & CPT