The protonation state of soluble and membrane-associated macromolecules dictates their charge, conformation and functional activity. In addition, protons (H⁺, or their equivalents) partake in numerous metabolic reactions and serve as a source of electrochemical energy to drive the transmembrane transport of both organic and inorganic substrates. Stringent regulation of the intracellular pH is therefore paramount to homeostasis. While the regulation of the cytosolic pH has been studied extensively, our understanding of the determinants of the [H⁺] of intracellular organelles has developed more slowly, limited by their small size and inaccessibility. Recently, however, targeting of molecular probes to the organellar lumen, together with advances in genomic, proteomic and electrophysiological techniques have led to the identification and characterization of unique pumps, channels and transporters responsible for the establishment and maintenance of intraorganellar pH. These developments and their implications to cellular function in health and disease are the subject of this review.

中文翻译：

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细胞器 pH 的决定因素、维持和功能

可溶性和膜相关大分子的质子化状态决定了它们的电荷、构象和功能活性。此外，质子（H ⁺或它们的等价物）参与许多代谢反应，并作为电化学能源驱动有机和无机底物的跨膜运输。因此，细胞内 pH 值的严格调节对于体内平衡至关重要。虽然已经广泛研究了细胞溶质 pH 值的调节，但我们对 [H ⁺] 的细胞内细胞器发育较慢，受其体积小和难以接近的限制。然而，最近，将分子探针靶向细胞器腔，以及基因组、蛋白质组学和电生理学技术的进步，已经导致识别和表征负责建立和维持细胞内 pH 值的独特泵、通道和转运蛋白。这些发展及其对健康和疾病中细胞功能的影响是本综述的主题。