= Solution
Titrate the omitted activities using small perturbations around the same steady-state condition, measuring oxygen consumption and calculating local slopes rather than assigning control from complete inhibition. For example, suitable <ATP synthase>, <succinate dehydrogenase> and carrier perturbations could test their contributions, with independent checks of inhibitor selectivity and activity loss. \b[Measure <ATP> production alongside oxygen consumption], as well as <mitochondrial membrane potential>, to separate a change in phosphorylation efficiency from a change in electron flux. Check chamber oxygen availability, mitochondrial integrity, substrate abundance and assay reproducibility.
Repeat the control measurements across <ADP> demands and with defined alternative substrates. Carefully titrated <FCCP> can test respiratory capacity when proton-gradient backpressure is relieved, but the uncoupled state is a different operating condition and does not itself reveal the coupled-state coefficients. Fit the measured local sensitivities with uncertainty and test whether the expanded set satisfies the <flux summation theorem>. This distinguishes omitted control from technical inconsistency and shows whether the distribution changes with demand.
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