The equilibrium between the mitochondrial ATPase (F1) and its natural inhibitor in submitochondrial particles

1. The reversible equilibrium between the mitochondrial ATPase (F₁) and its naturally occurring inhibitor in Mg-ATP submitochondrial particles has been studied under different conditions.2. High ionic strength favours dissociation of the ATPase inhibitor as tested by ATPase and ATP-driven transhydrogenase activities.3. Dissociation of the ATPase inhibitor results in an increased maximal velocity of the ATPase activity measured in the presence of uncoupler and an increased affinity for adenine nucleotides, in particular for ATP.4. Association of the ATPase inhibitor with inhibitor-depleted Mg-ATP particles causes a slowing of the initial rate of succinate oxidation.5. The antibiotic aurovertin stimulates the ATPase activity of Mg-ATP particles preinculbated in the presence of a supply of oxidative energy. Bound aurovertin impedes the association of inhibitor-deficient particles with ATPase inhibitor.6. The fluorescence of aurovertin bound to inhibitor-containing particles is much less than that of aurovertin bound to inhibitor-depleted particles.7. The oligomycin-sensitivity-conferring protein, added either alone or in the presence or absence of membranous components of the ATPase complex, has little or no effect on the fluorescence of the F₁-aurovertin complex.8. It is suggested that the ATPase inhibitor brings F₁ in a conformation denoted 1F₁ that binds aurovertin with a low quantum yield, a decreased affinity and an increased binding capacity.     

Interaction of aurovertin with submitochondrial particles,deficient in ATPase inhibitor

1. Binding of aurovertin to submitochondrial particles deficient in ATPase inhibitor is accompanied by an enhancement of the fluorescence by at least 100-fold.2. This change in fluorescence proceeds in three phases. The slowest change may be due to a conformational change in F₁, induced by the antibiotic bound during the rapid phases, giving rise to an increase in the quantum yield of the bound fluorochrome.3. Phosphate and ATP quench the fluorescence of the particle-aurovertin complex and ADP enhances it; the rate and extent of these changes are dependent on the availability of free Mg²⁺.4. There is at least one binding site on the submitochondrial particles, where ATP, ADP and phosphate can bind reversibly and for which these ligands compete. These interactions are dependent on the availability of free Mg²⁺ and are partly sensitive to oligomycin.5. Binding studies reveal two binding sites for aurovertin on inhibitor-free particles, one with high affinity and one with a lower affinity. Ligands such as phosphate and ATP decrease both the quantum yield and the affinity of the particles for aurovertin. They also increase the total concentration of binding sites, and affect the relative contribution of weak and strong binding sites.6. A model is presented in which changes of the aurovertin fluorescence reflect conformational changes of the ATPase induced by its ligands.     

Effects of quercetin and F1 inhibitor on mitochondrial ATPase and energy-linked reactions in submitochondrial particles

Quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) shares certain properties with the mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor protein. At low concentrations it inhibits both soluble and particulate mitochondrial ATPase and has no effect on oxidative phosphorylation in submitochondrial particles. Unlike the mitochondrial inhibitor protein quercetin inhibits the ATP-dependent reduction of NAD⁺ by succinate in fully reconstituted submitochondrial particles. A comparison of various flavones indicates that the hydroxyl groups at the 3′ and perhaps 3 position are important for the inhibition of ATPase activity.     

Evidence supporting the identity of beef heart mitochondrial chloroform-released adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) with coupling factor I

Highly purified mitochondrial chloroform-released beef heart ATPase had molecular weight 330 000, five bands (α, β, γ, δ, ε) in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and could restore the oxidative-phosphorylation function of A particles. Maximal inhibition (90%) of the enzyme by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was achieved at a molar ratio of inhibitor to protein of 30 : 1. Chloroform introduced into an aqueous solution of beef heart coupling factor I protected it from cold inactivation.     

Regulatory proteins of F1F0-ATPase: Role of ATPase inhibitor

An intrinsic ATPase inhibitor inhibits the ATP-hydrolyzing activity of mitochondrial F₁F₀-ATPase and is released from its binding site on the enzyme upon energization of mitochondrial membranes to allow phosphorylation of ADP. The mitochondrial activity to synthesize ATP is not influenced by the absence of the inhibitor protein. The enzyme activity to hydrolyze ATP is induced by dissipation of the membrane potential in the absence of the inhibitor. Thus, the inhibitor is not responsible for oxidative phosphorylation, but acts only to inhibit ATP hydrolysis by F₁F₀-ATPase upon deenergization of mitochondrial membranes. The inhibitor protein forms a regulatory complex with two stabilizing factors, 9K and 15K proteins, which facilitate the binding of the inhibitor to F₁F₀-ATPase and stabilize the resultant inactivated enzyme. The 9K protein, having a sequence very similar to the inhibitor, binds directly to F₁ in a manner similar to the inhibitor. The 15K protein binds to the F₀ part and holds the inhibitor and the 9K protein on F₁F₀-ATPase even when one of them is detached from the F₁ part.     

Action of alkyl cations and the natural ATPase inhibitor from mitochondria on soluble mitochondrial ATPase

The effect of the natural ATPase inhibitor and octylguanidine on the ATPase activity of soluble oligomycin-insensitive mitochondrial F₁ were compared. Both compounds induced a maximal inhibition of 60–80% in various preparations of F₁ studied. The inhibition was of the uncompetitive type with respect to MgATP, and the action of the compounds was partially additive. The data suggest that octylguanidine reproduces the action of the natural ATPase inhibitor. Alkylammonium salts also affect the ATPase activity in a similar form. F₁ bound to Sepharose-hexylammonium is largely inactive, whilst free hexylammonium at higher concentrations induces only a partial inhibition of the activity. This suggests that the degree of immobilization of F₁ is related to the magnitude of inhibition of ATPase activity induced by alkyl cations. The binding of F₁ to Sepharose-hexylammonium is prevented by high concentrations of Na⁺ or K⁺.     

Respiration-department uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity in castor bean endosperm mitochondria and submitochondrial particles.

1. The uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity of castor bean endosperm mitochondria and submitchondrial particles has been studied. The rate of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by intact mitochondria was slow and little enhanced by addition of uncouplers at the concentration required for uncoupling the oxidative phosphorylation. ATP-ase activity was stimulated at higher concentrations of uncouplers. 2. 1-Anilinonaphthalene 8-sulfonate fluorescence was decreased when the mitochondria were oxidizing succinate. Carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and antimycin reversed the succinate-induced fluorescence diminution. ATP did not induce the fluorescence response. 3. The addition of succinate, NADH or ascorbate/N,N,N'-N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as electron donor induced high ATPase activity in the presence of low concentrations of uncouplers. Stimulating effect of uncouplers was completely abolished by further addition of antimycin. 4. Submitochondrial particles were prepared by sonication. The particles catalyzed a rapid hydrolysis of ATP and carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone at 10-8 M did not stimulate the ATPase activity. Addition of succinate induced uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity. The effect of succinate was completely abolished by further addition of antimycin. 5. The treatment of submitochondrial particles by trypsin or high pH also induced uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity. 6. The above results were interpreted to indicate that ATPase inhibitor regulated the back-flow reaction of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.     

Mg2+-induced ADP-dependent inhibition of the ATPase activity of beef heart mitochondrial coupling factor F1.

Incubation of F₁ in the presence of Mg²⁺ results in a pronounced lag in its ATPase activity measured with the ATP-regenerating system. A decrease of the initial rate of ATPase induced by Mg²⁺ is also observed when free nucleotides were separated from the enzyme by Sephadex gel filtration. No inhibition is observed when F₁ treated to remove tightly bound nucleotides was preincubated in the presence of Mg²⁺. Mg²⁺-induced inhibition of ATPase activity of nucleotide-depleted F₁ can be restored by an addition of low concentrations of ADP. In all cases the inhibited ATPase can be activated by the ADP-removing system /phosphoenol pyruvate + pyruvate kinase/. It is concluded that i/ Mg²⁺-induced inhibition of the ATPase activity of F₁ is due to the formation of an inactive F₁. ADP complex; and ii/ unusual inhibition of oligomycin-sensitive ATPase by ADP /Fitin et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Communs. 1979, $\text{86}$, 434/ is directed to F₁ component of the complete mitochondrial ATPase system.     

Spontaneous aggregation of the mitochondrial natural ATPase inhibitor in salt solutions as demonstrated by gel filtration and neutron scattering. Application to the concomitant purification of the ATPase inhibitor and F1-ATPase

(1) The natural ATPase inhibitor (IF₁) from beef heart mitochondria has a tendency to form aggregates in aqueous solutions. The extent of aggregation and the structure of the aggregates were assessed by gel filtration and small-angle neutron scattering. IF₁ polymerization was found to depend on the salt concentrations, pH of the medium and concentration of IF₁. The higher the salt concentration, the lower the aggregation state. Aggregation of IF₁ was decreased at slightly acidic pH. It increased with the concentration of IF₁ as expected from the law of mass action. (2) Neutron scattering showed the aggregation of IF₁ in 2 M ammonium sulfate solutions. The predominant species is the dimer which has a somewhat elongated shape. (3) The Sephadex G-50 chromatography that is supposed to deprive beef heart submitochondrial particles of loosely bound IF₁ (Racker, E. and Horstman, L.L. (1967) J. Biol. Chem. 242, 2547–2551) was shown to have a limited effectiveness as a trap for IF₁. The reason was that IF₁ released from the particles formed high molecular weight aggregates that were not separated from the membrane vesicles by Sephadex G-50 chromatography. (4) The above observations provide the basis for a simple method of purification of beef heart IF₁ which combines the recovery of the supernatant from submitochondrial particles with the last three steps of the IF₁ preparation described by Horstman and Racker (J. Biol. Chem. (1970) 265, 1336–1344). The particles recovered in the sediment were deprived of IF₁ and could therefore be used for preparation of F₁-ATPase. The advantage of this method is that both IF₁ and F₁-ATPase can be prepared from the same batch of mitochondria.     

Effect of the protonmotive force on ATP-linked processes and mobilization of the bound natural ATPase inhibitor in beef heart submitochondrial particles

In an attempt to determine whether the natural ATPase inhibitor (IF₁) plays a role in oxidative phosphorylation, the time course of ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis in inside-out submitochondrial particles from beef heart mitochondria either possessing IF₁ (Mg-ATP particles) or devoid of IF₁ (AS particles) was investigated and compared to movements of IF₁, as assessed by an isotopic assay. The responses of the above reactions to preincubation of the particles in aerobiosis with NADH or succinate were as follows: (1) The few seconds lag that preceded the steady-rate phase of ATP synthesis was shortened and even abolished both in Mg-ATP particles and AS particles. The rate of ATP synthesis in the steady state was independent of the length of the lag. (2) ATPase was slowly activated, maximal activation being obtained after a 50-min preincubation; there was no direct link between the development of the protonmotive force (maximal within 1 sec) and ATPase activation. (3) Bound IF₁ was slowly released; the release of bound IF₁ as a function of the preincubation period was parallel to the enhancement of ATPase activity; the maximal amount of IF₁ released was a small fraction of the total IF₁ bound to the particles (less than 20%). (4) The double reciprocal plots of the rates of ATP and ITP hydrolysis vs. substrate concentrations that were curvilinear in the absence of preincubation with a respiratory substrate became linear after aerobic preincubation with the substrate. The data conclusively show that only ATPase activity in submitochondrial particles is correlated with the release of IF₁, and that the total extent of IF₁ release induced by respiration is limited. On the other hand, the kinetics of ATPase in control and activated particles are consistent with the existence of two conformations of the membrane-bound F₁-ATPase, directed to ATP synthesis or ATP hydrolysis and distinguishable by their affinity for IF₁.     

On the amino acids involved in the ATPase site of mitochondrial F1 and the implication of the subunit C.

The data on the pH dependence of the K_m for Mg-ATP and the V_m of the ATPase of pig heart mitochondrial F₁ indicate the presence of two groups of different pK's which modify the enzyme activity. The first pK at pH 9.6 ± 0.2 may be related to the possible presence of arginine and/or tyrosine residues in the ATPase site; the second pK at pH 7.2 ± 0.2 could be due to the presence of a histidine residue in the ATPase site or to the involvement of amino groups in the ATPase site. The inhibition induced by photooxidation in the presence of Rose Bengal is not pH dependent in the pH range corresponding to the pK of histidine. The inhibition induced by diethylpyrocarbonate cannot be reversed by hydroxylamine and the characteristics of this inhibition rather correspond to the reaction of the inhibitor with amino groups. Pyridoxal phosphate also inhibits the ATPase activity of F₁ by reaction with amino groups. The presence of ATP or phosphate partially protects against the inhibition induced by diethylpyrocarbonate or pyridoxal phosphate, which indicates that amino groups may be directly or indirectly involved in the binding of nucleotide and phosphate to F₁. Glutaraldehyde also inhibits the enzyme by reacting with amino groups and inducing a crosslinking of the subunits. The disappearance of subunit C is well correlated with the decrease of ATPase activity, indicating that subunit C is essential in the ATPase activity.     

Respiration-dependent uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity in castor bean endosperm mitochondria and submitochondrial particles

1. The uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity of castor bean endosperm mitochondria and submitochondrial particles has been studied. The rate of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by intact mitochondria was slow and little enhanced by addition of uncouplers at the concentration required for uncoupling the oxidative phosphorylation. ATPase activity was stimulated at higher concentrations of uncouplers.

2. 1-Anilinonaphthalene 8-sulfonate fluorescence was decreased when the mitochondria were oxidizing succinate. Carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and antimycin reversed the succinate-induced fluorescence diminution. ATP did not induce the fluorescence response.

3. The addition of succinate, NADH or ascorbate/N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as electron donor induced high ATPase activity in the presence of low concentrations of uncouplers. Stimulating effect of uncouplers was completely abolished by further addition of antimycin.

4. Submitochondrial particles were prepared by sonication. The particles catalyzed a rapid hydrolysis of ATP and carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone at 10^-8 M did not stimulate the ATPase activity. Addition of succinate induced uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity. The effect of succinate was completely abolished by further addition of antimycin.

5. The treatment of submitochondrial particles by trypsin or high pH also induced uncoupler-stimulated ATPase activity.

6. The above results were interpreted to indicate that ATPase inhibitor regulated the back-flow reaction of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of beef heart mitochondrial ATPase: Effect of co-solvent systems

The effects of glycerol and methanol upon beef heart mitochondrial ATPase (F₁) were studied. Glycerol was found to be a potent reversible inhibitor of the F₁-catalyzed hydrolysis of ATP and ITP. The inhibition of ATP hydrolysis was linear with respect to glycerol concentrations, while that of ITP was not. From the temperature dependence ofV _max for F₁-catalyzed ATP and ITP hydrolysis in glycerol or methanol solutions, the energy of activation and the enthalpy of activation were calculated. The inhibitory effect of ADP on F₁ hydrolytic activity was studied in three solvent systems (totally aqueous, 20% methanol, and 20% glycerol). Compared to the aqueous system, methanol decreased the potency of ADP as an inhibitor, and glycerol enhanced the potency.Abbreviations used: TEA, triethanolamine; PEP, phosphoenolpyruvate; ATP, adenosine-5-triphosphate; ITP, inosine-5-triphosphate; ADP, adenosine-5-diphosphate.     

Control of activity states of heart mitochondrial ATPase. Role of the proton-motive force and Ca2+

The ATPase complex of submitochondrial particles exhibits activity transitions that are controlled by the natural ATPase inhibitor (Gómez-Puyou, A., Tuena de Gómez-Puyou, M. and Ernster, L. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 547, 252–257). The ATPase of intact heart mitochondria also shows reversible activity transitions; the activation reaction is induced by the establishment of electrochemical gradients, whilst the inactivation reaction is driven by collapse of the gradient. In addition it has been observed that the influx of Ca²⁺ into the mitochondria induces a rapid inactivation of the ATPase; this could be due to the transient collapse of the membrane potential in addition to a favorable effect of Ca²⁺-ATP on the association of the ATPase inhibitor peptide to F₁-ATPase. This action of Ca²⁺ may explain why mitochondria utilize respiratory energy for the transport of Ca²⁺ in preference to phosphorylation. It is concluded that the mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor protein may exert a fundamental regulatory function in the utilization of electrochemical gradients.     

Visualization of mitochondrial coupling factor F1(ATPase) by freeze-drying

It is known that the negatively stained preparations of inner mitochondrial membrane display characteristic ∼9 nmF ₁ (ATPase) knobs projecting from the matrix surface. Freeze-etch studies have reported the absence of such knobs from the “etched” surface of the inner mitochondrial membranes. We have demonstrated their presence on the surface of SMP (submitochondrial particles) prepared by freeze-drying for transmission electron microscopy. This identification has been substantiated by comparison with the freeze-dried TU particles (trypsin-urea treated SMP) that are devoid ofF ₁ (ATPase). It has been suggested that a layer of water molecules is strongly adsorbed to the surface of SMP and does not sublime during normal freeze-“etching.”     

The Vacuolar ATPase of Red Beet Storage Tissue: Electron Microscopic Demonstration of the “Head-and-Stalk” Structure*

Tonoplast membranes were prepared from tissue homogenates and from vacuoles isolated from beetroot storage tissue (Beta vulgaris L., ssp. conditiva) for transmission electron microscopic analysis of the structure of the beetroot vacuolar ATPase using the negative staining technique. By comparison of the specific inhibitor sensitivities of the ATPase activity, i.e. ATP hydrolysis and H⁺-pumping, the purity of the tonoplast preparations with respect to contamination with mitochondrial inner membranes was assessed to avoid confusion with mitochondrial F₁F₀-ATPase. Membranes prepared in Hepes/Tris or BTP/Mes-containing media rarely showed typical head-and-stalk structures although characteristic nitrate- and bafilomycin A₁-sensitive ATP-hydrolysis and H⁺-pumping could be measured. However, typical head-and-stalk structures were observed regularly when these buffers were replaced by K-phosphate buffer. Under these conditions, the beetroot vacuolar ATPase is characterized by a large head group with a central cleft, a thin stalk, connecting it to the membrane and by basal components projecting from the base of the stalks near the vacuolar membrane and forming a distinct layer of electron-light particles between the vacuolar membrane and the layer of non-stained head groups.     

Isolation and comparative studies of mitochondrial F1-ATPase from Morris hepatoma and rat liver.

A simple method of isolating mitochondrial ATPase from rat liver and Morris hepatoma cell lines by chloroform extraction and chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex is described. This method is suitable even when small amounts of starting material with relatively low specific ATPase activity (in the case of hepatoma mitochondria and submitochondrial particles) are available. The isolated enzyme from both rat liver and hepatomas had a high specific activity, was similarly activated by bicarbonate and 2,4-dinitrophenol, and had a typical five-band pattern in sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis. Prior to DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, an additional protein band which migrates between the δ and ? subunits in the tumor F₁-ATPase preparation was observed. The purified enzymes were cold labile and restored oxidative phosphorylation function of F₁-ATPase depleted submitochondrial particles prepared from rat liver. The ATPase activity of the isolated enzymes was inhibited by mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor protein. The apparent stoichiometry of the inhibitor protein to the purified ATPase was extrapolated to be 2:1.     

Effect of the electrochemical proton gradient and anions on the ATPase activity of soybean submitochondrial particles

Submitochondrial particles from soybean (Glycine max L. cv Jupiter) hypocotyls with an ATPase activity of 0.3 to 1.0 micromole per minute per milligram were prepared by sonication with Mg-ATP. The particles catalyzed ATP synthesis with NADH and succinate; the ratios of ATP/O with these substrates were 1.0 and 0.1, respectively. As monitored by oxonol-VI, the particles built up and maintained a membrane potential that was higher with NADH than with succinate or Mg-ATP. The ATPase activity of the particles increased two to threefold by preincubation with 50 millimolar phosphate at a temperature of 38°C. The increase in ATPase activity became higher (five to sixfold) when particles were preincubated with Mg-ATP plus phosphate. Under the latter conditions, collapse of μH by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone prevented the activation. An increase in ATPase activity of the particles was also observed with NADH and succinate, although activation was lower with succinate. With these substrates, phosphate did not increase ATPase activation. When particles were preincubated with Mg-ATP, anions that stimulate ATP hydrolysis (malate, malonate, and bicarbonate) had an activating effect similar to that of phosphate. The data suggest that the soybean mitochondrial ATPase can be activated by μH but that this activation is increased by the binding of certain anions to a conformation of the enzyme that appears during hydrolytic cycles.