Purification and reconstitution of the F1F0-ATP synthase from alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4. Evidence that the enzyme translocates H+ but not Na+

The F1F0-ATP synthase from the alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4 was purified in a reconstitutively active form, in good yield and with a high specific ATPase activity when appropriately activated. The purification procedure involved octyl glucoside extraction of washed membrane vesicles in the presence of 20% glycerol and asolectin followed by ammonium sulfate fractionation and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The purified preparation was resolved into seven bands by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, corresponding to the five F1 subunits, alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon, and to the b and c subunits of the F0. Two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly-acrylamide gel analysis revealed a candidate for the alpha subunit of F0. The MgATPase activity of B. firmus OF4 F1F0 was barely detectable but could be stimulated, optimally more than 100-fold, by sulfite, methanol, and octyl thioglucoside. The enzyme was inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and sodium azide, but not by aurovertin, an inhibitor of the F1 from Escherichia coli. The F1F0 reconstituted into proteoliposomes catalyzed ATPase activity, ATP-Pi exchange, and ATP-dependent delta pH and delta psi formation. ATP hydrolysis was stimulated by protonophores while the other activities were abolished by protonophores. These activities were neither dependent on added sodium ions nor significantly affected by them. F1F0 proteoliposomes made from crude octyl glucoside extracts that also contained the Na+/H+ antiporter were shown to catalyze ATP-dependent Na+ uptake that was completely sensitive to carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl-hydrazone; Na+ uptake activity was absent in proteoliposomes containing more purified F1F0 but lacking the Na+/H+ antiporter. These data show that the F1F0 translocates protons and does not substitute Na+ for H+ in energy coupling.     

A hybrid adenosinetriphosphatase composed of F1 of Escherichia coli and F0 of Propionigenium modestum is a functional sodium ion pump

Analyses on immunoblots indicated strong binding of the alpha- and beta-subunits of the ATPase of Propionigenium modestum to antibodies raised against the corresponding subunits of the F1F0 ATPase of Escherichia coli. Cross-reactivities of antibodies against the other ATPase subunits were not observed. The use of Na+ or H+ as alternate coupling ions, observed previously for the P. modestum ATPase [Laubinger, W., & Dimroth, P. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 7194-7198], is not found for the F1F0 ATPase of E. coli, which is specific for protons. However, a hybrid consisting of the F1 moiety of the E. coli ATPase and F0 of that from P. modestum performed Na+ or H+ transport in a reconstituted system. As with the homologous ATPase of P. modestum, H+ pumping of the hybrid was abolished at Na+ concentrations of greater than 1 mM. The F0 sector and not F1, therefore, determines the cation specificity of these F1F0 ATPases.     

F0F1-ATPase from Vibrio alginolyticus. Subunit composition and proton pumping activity.

An F0F1-ATPase was isolated from the membranes of the marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus. Homology between the subunits of the F0-complexes from E. coli and V. alginolyticus was found using antibodies against subunits a, b and c of the E. coli F0F1-ATPase. The F0F1-complex from V. alginolyticus was reconstituted into proteoliposomes, which were competent in ATP-dependent proton uptake. This process was inhibited by triphenyltin, DCCD, and venturicidin. Na+ did not affect proton translocation.     

Mode of interaction of the single a subunit with the multimeric c subunits during the translocation of the coupling ions by F1F0 ATPases.

We have recently isolated a mutant (aK220R, aV264E, aI278N) of the Na+-translocating Escherichia coli/Propionigenium modestum ATPase hybrid with a Na+-inhibited growth phenotype on succinate. ATP hydrolysis by the reconstituted mutant ATPase was inhibited by external (N side) NaCl but not by internal (P side) NaCl. In contrast, LiCl activated the ATPase from the N side and inhibited it from the P side. A similar pattern of activation and inhibition was observed with NaCl and the ATPase from the parent strain PEF42. We conclude from these results that the binding sites for the coupling ions on the c subunits are freely accessible from the N side. Upon occupation of these sites, the ATPase becomes more active, provided that the ions can be further translocated to the P side through a channel of the a subunit. If by mutation of the a subunit this channel becomes impermeable for Na+, N side Na+ ions specifically inhibit the ATPase activity. These conclusions were corroborated by the observation that proton transport into proteoliposomes containing the mutant ATPase was abolished by N side but not by P side Na+ ions. In contrast, LiCl affected proton translocation from either side, similar to the sidedness effect of Na+ ions on H+ transport by the parent hybrid ATPase. If the ATPase carrying the mutated a subunit was incubated with 22NaCl and ATP, 1 mol 22Na+/mol enzyme was occluded. With the parent hybrid ATPase, 22Na+ occlusion was not observed. The occluded 22Na+ could be removed from its tight binding site by 20 mM LiCl, while incubation with 20 mM NaCl was without effect. Li+ but not Na+ is therefore apparently able to pass through the mutated a subunit and make the entrapped Na+ ions accessible again to the aqueous environment. These results suggest an ion translocation mechanism through F0 that in the ATP hydrolysis mode involves binding of the coupling ions from the cytoplasm to the multiple c subunits, ATP-driven rotation to bring a Na+, Li+, or H+-loaded c subunit into a contact site with the a subunit and release of the coupling ions through the a subunit channel to the periplasmic surface of the membrane.     

Characterization of native and reconstituted hydrogen ion pumping adenosinetriphosphatase of chromaffin granules

The ATP-dependent H+ pump from adrenal chromaffin granules is, like the platelet-dense granule H+ pump, essentially insensitive to the mitochondrial ATPase inhibitors sodium azide, efrapeptin, and oligomycin and also insensitive to vanadate and ouabain, agents that inhibit the Na+,K+-ATPase. The chromaffin granule H+ pump is, however, sensitive to low concentrations of NEM (N-ethylmaleimide) and Nbd-Cl (7-chloro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole). These transport ATPases may thus belong to a new class of ATP-dependent ion pumps distinct from F1F0-and phosphoenzyme-type ATPases. Comparisons of ATP hydrolysis with ATP-dependent serotonin transport suggest that approximately 80% of the ATPase activity in purified chromaffin granule membranes is coupled to H+ pumping. Most of the remaining ATPase activity is due to contaminating mitochondrial ATPase and Na+,K+-ATPase. When extracted with cholate and octyl glucoside, the H+ pump is solubilized in a monodisperse form that retains NEM-sensitive ATPase activity. When reconstituted into proteoliposomes with crude brain phospholipid, the extracted enzyme recovers ATP-dependent H+ pumping, which shows the same inhibitor sensitivity and nucleotide dependence as the native pump. These data demonstrate that the predominant ATP hydrolase of chromaffin granule membrane is also responsible for ATP-driven amine transport and granule acidification in both native and reconstituted membranes.     

Characterization of the ATP synthase of Propionigenium modestum as a primary sodium pump

The ATP synthase (F1F0) of Propionigenium modestum has been purified to a specific ATPase activity of 5.5 units/mg of protein, which is about 6 times higher than that of the bacterial membranes. Analysis by SDS gel electrophoresis indicated that in addition to the five subunits of the F1 ATPase, subunits of Mr 26,000 (a), 23,000 (b), and 7500 (c) have been purified. The ATPase activity of F1F0 was specifically activated about 10-fold by Na+ions. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, venturicidin, tributyltin chloride, and azide. After incubation with [14C]dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, about 3-4 mol of the inhibitor was bound per 500,000 g of the enzyme. The radioactive label was specifically bound to submit c. These subunits form stable aggregates which resist dissociation by SDS at 100 degrees C. The monomer is formed upon heating with SDS to 121 degrees C or by extraction of the membranes with chloroform/methanol. The ATP synthase was incorporated into liposomes by a freeze-thaw-sonication procedure. The reconstituted proteoliposomes catalyzed the transport of Na+ions upon ATP hydrolysis. The transport was completely abolished by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Whereas monensin prevented the accumulation of Na+ions, the uptake rate was stimulated 4-5-fold in the presence of valinomycin or carbonyl cyanide m=chlorophenylhydrazone. These results indicate an electrogenic Na+ transport and also that it is a primary event and not accomplished by a H+-translocating ATP synthase in combination with a Na+/H+ antiporter.     

The sodium ion translocating adenosinetriphosphatase of Propionigenium modestum pumps protons at low sodium ion concentrations

The purified ATPase (F1F0) of Propionigenium modestum has its pH optimum at pH 7.0 or at pH 6.0 in the presence or absence of 5 mM NaCl, respectively. The activation by 5 mM NaCl was 12-fold at pH 7.0, 3.5-fold at pH 6.0, and 1.5-fold at pH 5.0. In addition to its function as a primary Na+ pump, the ATPase was capable of pumping protons. This activity was demonstrated with reconstituted proteoliposomes by the ATP-dependent quenching of the fluorescence of 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine. No delta pH was formed in the presence of the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone or by blocking the ATPase with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. In the presence of valinomycin and K+, the delta pH increased, in accord with the operation of an electrogenic proton pump. The proton pump was only operative at low Na+ concentrations (less than 1 mM), and its activity increased as the Na+ concentration decreased. Parallel to the decrease of H+ pumping, the velocity of the Na+ transport increased about 6-fold from 0.1 to 4 mM NaCl, indicating a switch from H+ to Na+ pumping, as the Na+ concentration increases. Due to proton leaks in the proteoliposomal membranes, fluorescence quenching was released after blocking the ATPase with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, by trapping residual ATP with glucose and hexokinase, or by the Na+-induced conversion of the proton pump onto a Na+ pump. Amiloride, an inhibitor of various Na+-coupled transport systems, was without effect on the kinetics of Na+ transport by the P. modestum ATPase.     

Membrane integration and function of the three F0 subunits of the ATP synthase of Escherichia coli K12

Integration into the cytoplasmic membrane and function of the three F0 subunits, a, b and c, of the membrane-bound ATP synthase of Escherichia coli K12 were analysed in situations where synthesis of only one or two types of subunits was possible. This was achieved by combined use of atp mutations and plasmids carrying and expressing one or two of the atp genes coding for ATP synthase subunits. AU three F0 subunits were found to be required for the establishment of efficient H+ conduction. Subunits a and b individually as well as together were found to bind F1 ATPase to the membrane while subunit c did not. The ATPase activity bound to either of these single subunits, or in pairwise combinations, was not inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Also ATP-dependent H+ translocation was not catalysed unless all three F0 subunits were present in the membrane. The integration into the membrane of the subunits a and b was independent of the presence of other ATP synthase subunits.     

The hydrogen ion-pumping adenosine triphosphatase of platelet dense granule membrane. Differences from F1F0- and phosphoenzyme-type ATPases

Using a coupled transport assay which detects only those ATPase molecules functionally inserted into the platelet dense granule membrane, we have characterized the inhibitor sensitivity, substrate specificity, and divalent cation requirements of the granule H+ pump. Under identical assay conditions, the granule ATPase was insensitive to concentrations of NaN3, oligomycin, and efrapeptin which almost completely inhibit ATP hydrolysis by mitochondrial membranes. The granule ATPase was inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide but only at concentrations much higher than those needed to maximally inhibit mitochondrial ATPase. Vanadate (VO3-) ion and ouabain also failed to inhibit granule ATPase activity at concentrations which maximally inhibited purified Na+,K+-ATPase. Two alkylating agents, 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole and N-ethylmaleimide both completely inhibited H+ pumping by the granule ATPase under conditions where ATP hydrolysis by mitochondrial membranes or Na+,K+-ATPase was hardly affected. These results suggest that the H+-pumping ATPase of platelet granule membrane may belong to a class of ion-translocating ATPases distinct from both the phosphoenzyme-type ATPases present in plasma membrane and the F1F0-ATPases of energy-transducing membranes.     

A vacuolar-type proton pump energizes K+/H+ antiport in an animal plasma membrane.

In this paper we demonstrate that a vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase energizes secondary active transport in an insect plasma membrane and thus we provide an alternative to the classical concept of plasma membrane energization in animal cells by the Na+/K(+)-ATPase. We investigated ATP-dependent and -independent vesicle acidification, monitored with fluorescent acridine orange, in a highly purified K(+)-transporting goblet cell apical membrane preparation of tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) midgut. ATP-dependent proton transport was shown to be catalyzed by a vacuolar-type ATPase as deduced from its sensitivity to submicromolar concentrations of bafilomycin A1. ATP-independent amiloride-sensitive proton transport into the vesicle interior was dependent on an outward-directed K+ gradient across the vesicle membrane. This K(+)-dependent proton transport may be interpreted as K+/H+ antiport because it exhibited the same sensitivity to amiloride and the same cation specificity as the K(+)-dependent dissipation of a pH gradient generated by the vacuolar-type proton pump. The vacuolar-type ATPase is exclusively a proton pump because it could acidify vesicles independent of the extravesicular K+ concentration, provided that the antiport was inhibited by amiloride. Polyclonal antibodies against the purified vacuolar-type ATPase inhibited ATPase activity and ATP-dependent proton transport, but not K+/H+ antiport, suggesting that the antiporter and the ATPase are two different molecular entities. Experiments in which fluorescent oxonol V was used as an indicator of a vesicle-interior positive membrane potential provided evidence for the electrogenicity of K+/H+ antiport and suggested that more than one H+ is exchanged for one K+ during a reaction cycle. Both the generation of the K+ gradient-dependent membrane potential and the vesicle acidification were sensitive to harmaline, a typical inhibitor of Na(+)-dependent transport processes including Na+/H+ antiport. Our results led to the hypothesis that active and electrogenic K+ secretion in the tobacco hornworm midgut results from electrogenic K+/nH+ antiport which is energized by the electrical component of the proton-motive force generated by the electrogenic vacuolar-type proton pump.     

Purification and molecular properties of the (sodium + potassium)-adenosinetriphosphatase and reconstitution of coupled sodium and potassium transport in phospholipid vesicles containing purified enzyme.

Recent work in our laboratory on the purification and characterization of the (sodium + potassium)-activated adenosinetriphosphatase (NaK ATPase) has been reviewed. Two enzymes have been purified, that from the rectal salt gland of the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias and that from the electric organ of the electric eel, Electrophorus electricus. The enzyme appears to consist of two catalytic subunits of molecular weight of about 95,000 and one glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 50,000. The amino acid composition, N-terminal amino acids, and the carbohydrate composition of these subunits have been determined. The phospholipid composition of the holoenzyme has also been determined. The protein component shows very little variation with evolution, but the carbohydrate and phospholipid components show considerable variation. It has been possible to form vesicles from the purified enzyme from Squalus acanthias and to demonstrate the ATP-dependent, ouabain inhibitable, coupled uphill transports of Na+ and K+. The properties of these transports are very similar to those observed previously in intact erythrocytes or resealed erythrocyte ghosts with respect to asymmetries of binding sites, stoichiometries of Na+ and K+ transported, Na+-Na+ exchange, and K+-K+ exchange. It is concluded that the NaK ATPase is the molecular machine for effecting Na+ and K+ transport in the intact cell membrane.     

The membrane ATPase of alkalophilic Bacillus firmus RAB is an F1-type ATPase

At the optimal pH for growth (pH 10.5), alkalophilic Bacillus firmus RAB, an obligate aerobe, exhibits normal rates of oxidative phosphorylation despite the low transmembrane proton electrochemical gradient, about -60 mV (delta psi = -180 mV and delta pH = +120 mV). This bioenergetic problem might be resolved by use of an Na+ coupled ATP synthase; otherwise an F1F0-ATPase must be able to utilize low driving forces in this organism. The ATPase activity was extracted from everted membrane vesicles by low ionic strength treatment and purified to homogeneity by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The ATPase preparation had the characteristic F1-ATPase subunit structure, with Mr values of 51,500 (alpha), 48,900 (beta), 34,400 (gamma), 23,300 (delta), and 14,500 (epsilon); the identity of the alpha and beta subunits was confirmed by immunoblotting with anti-beta of Escherichia coli and anti-B. firmus RAB F1. Methanol and octyl glucoside, agents that stimulated the low basal membrane ATPase activity 10- to 12-fold, dramatically elevated the MgATPase activity of the purified F1, more than 150-fold, to 50 mumol min-1 mg protein-1. Anti-F1 inhibited membrane ATPase activity greater than or equal to 80%. The membranes exhibited no Na+-stimulated or vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity when prepared in the absence or presence of Na+ or ATP. These findings, which are consistent with previous studies, establish that in alkalophilic bacteria, ATP hydrolysis, and presumably ATP synthesis is catalyzed by an F1F0-ATPase rather than a Na+ ATPase.     

Energy-linked reactions catalyzed by the purified ATPase complex (F0F1) from Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores

1. The isolation of F0F1-ATPase complex from Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores by the use of taurodeoxycholate is described. 2. The enzyme preparation contains about 12 polypeptides; five are subunits of the F1 moiety. 3. The ATPase activity of the purified enzyme is dependent on the addition of phospholipids. 4. Km-vales for Mg2+-ATP and Ca2+-ATP are similar to the values obtained for the membrane-bound enzyme. 5. The F0F1-ATPase complex is more than 70% inhibited by oligomycin and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. 6. The F0F1-ATPase complex was integrated into liposomes. The reconstituted proteoliposomes catalyzed energy transduction as shown by ATP-dependent quenching of acridine dye fluorescence and ATP-32Pi exchange.     

Characterization of the Na+-stimulated ATPase of Propionigenium modestum as an enzyme of the F1F0 type

The ATP-hydrolyzing activity of Propionigenium modestum was extracted from the membranes with Triton X-100 or by incubation with EDTA at low ionic strength. The ATPase in the Triton extract was highly sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide but not to vanadate. These properties are characteristic for enzymes of the F1 F0 type. The ATPase was specifically activated by Na+ ions yielding a 15-fold increase in catalytic activity at 5 mM Na+ concentration. The additional presence of 1% Triton X-100 caused a further 1.5-fold activation. In the absence of Na+ Triton stimulated the ATPase about 13-fold. The Triton-stimulated ATPase was further activated about 1.5-2-fold by Na+ addition. The ATPase extracted by the low-ionic-strength treatment was purified to homogeneity by fractionation with poly(ethylene glycol) and gel chromatography. The enzyme had the characteristic F1-ATPase subunit structure with Mr values of 58,000 (alpha), 56,000 (beta), 37,600 (gamma), 22,700 (delta), and 14,000 (epsilon). The F1-ATPase was not stimulated by Na+ ions. The membrane-bound ATPase was reconstituted from the purified F1 part and F1-depleted membranes, thus further indicating an F1 F0 structure for the ATPase of P. modestum. Upon reconstitution the ATPase recovered its stimulation by Na+ ions, suggesting that the binding site for Na+ is localized on the membrane-bound F0 part of the enzyme complex.     

Na+/Ca2+ exchange in coated microvesicles.

Coated microvesicles isolated from bovine neurohypophyses could be loaded with Ca2+ in two different ways, either by incubation in the presence of ATP or by imposition of an outwardly directed Na+ gradient. Na+, but not K+, was able to release Ca2+ accumulated by the coated microvesicles. These results suggest the existence of an ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport system as well as of a Na+/Ca2+ carrier in the membrane of coated microvesicles similar to that present in the membranes of secretory vesicles from the neurohypophysis. A kinetic analysis of transport indicates that the apparent Km for free Ca2+ of the ATP-dependent uptake was 0.8 microM. The average Vmax. was 2 nmol of Ca2+/5 min per mg of protein. The total capacity of microvesicles for Ca2+ uptake was 3.7 nmol/mg of protein. Both nifedipine (10 microM) and NH4Cl (50 mM) inhibited Ca2+ uptake. The ATPase activity in purified coated-microvesicles fractions from brain and neurohypophysis was characterized. Micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ in the presence of millimolar concentrations of Mg2+ did not change enzyme activity. Ionophores increasing the proton permeability across membranes activated the ATPase activity in preparations of coated microvesicles from brain as well as from the neurohypophysis. Thus the enzyme exhibits properties of a proton-transporting ATPase. This enzyme seems to be linked to the ion accumulation by coated microvesicles, although the precise coupling of the proton transport to Ca2+ and Na+ fluxes remains to be determined.     

Functional role of soluble mitochondrial ATPase subunits.

A preparation of soluble mitochondrial ATPase (coupling factor F1) containing no gamma and delta minor subunits has been isolated. The minor-subunits-deficient F1 was found to be competent in ATP hydrolysis. However, it did not demonstrate a "coupling" effect in EDTA-submitochondrial particles. A portion of the ATPase activity of EDTA particles, stimulated by the minor-subunits-deficient F1, was insensitive to oligomycin. ATPase activity of Na+-particles was changed only slightly by this F1. It is suggested that gamma and delta subunits are necessary to form specific contacts between the F1 molecule and components of the mitochrondrial membrane.     

Calcium transport mechanisms in basolateral plasma membrane-enriched vesicles from rat parotid gland.

Ca2+ transport was studied by using basolateral plasma membrane vesicles from rat parotid gland prepared by a Percoll gradient centrifugation method. In these membrane vesicles, there were two Ca2+ transport systems; Na+/Ca2+ exchange and ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport. An outwardly directed Na+ gradient increased Ca2+ uptake. Ca2+ efflux from Ca2+-preloaded vesicles was stimulated by an inwardly directed Na+ gradient. However, Na+/Ca2+ exchange did not show any 'uphill' transport of Ca2+ against its own gradient. ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport exhibited 'uphill' transport. An inwardly directed Na+ gradient also decreased Ca2+ accumulation by ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake. The inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation was proportional to the external Na+ level. Na+/Ca2+ exchange was inhibited by monensin, tetracaine and chlorpromazine, whereas ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport was inhibited by orthovanadate, tetracaine and chlorpromazine. Oligomycin had no effect on either system. These results suggest that in the parotid gland cellular free Ca2+ is extruded mainly by an ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport system, and Na+/Ca2+ exchange may modify the efficacy of that system.     

Presence of a sodium-translocating ATPase in membrane vesicles of the homoacetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii.

Inverted membrane vesicles of the homoacetogenic bacterium Acetobacterium woodii catalyzed the hydrolysis of ATP with a rate of 100-150 nmol.min-1.mg protein-1. The ATPase was stimulated 1.4-1.6-fold by NaCl and inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide tributyltin or azide. The degree of inhibition caused by F0-directed but not F1-directed inhibitors was affected by the Na+ concentration in the medium. These experiments indicated the presence of a sodium-translocating ATPase. This was verified by transport studies. Upon addition of ATP to inverted vesicles, 22Na+ was actively transported into the intravesicular space up to a 24-fold accumulation. Na+ transport was inhibited by the sodium ionophore N,N,N',N',-tetracyclohexyl-1,2-phenyl-enedioxydiacetamide but stimulated by valinomycin with potassium whereas the protonophore 3,5,-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalonitrile was without effect. N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and tributyltin inhibited 22Na+ transport. These experiments are in accordance with a primary electrogenic Na+ transport as catalyzed by a F1F0-ATPase.     

Isolation of the mitochondrial F1-F0 adenosine triphosphatase by Sepharose-hexylammonium chromatography: properties and reconstitution in liposomes

Lauryl dimethylamino oxide, a zwitterionic detergent, was employed to solubilize the H+ ATPase from beef heart mitochondria. A simple preparation procedure has been devised to obtain F1-F0 based on a method described to purify F1 ATPase (M. Tuena de Gómez-Puyou and A. Gómez-Puyou, 1977, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 182, 82-86) which consists of the selective adsorption of F1 to Sepharose-hexylammonium beads. The preparation showed approximately 18 bands in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; 5 correspond to F1 subunits and the rest probably to the stalk and hydrophobic sector F0. The binding of [14C]dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to a low-molecular-weight component of this preparation was demonstrated. The F1-F0 complex was reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles which displayed ATP-Pi exchange and ATP-dependent 9-aminoacridine fluorescence quenching, both sensitive to proton channel inhibitors.     

Diethylstilbestrol. A novel F0-directed probe of the mitochondrial proton ATPase

At low concentrations, diethylstilbestrol (DES) is shown to be a potent F0-directed inhibitor of the F0F1-ATPase of rat liver mitochondria. In analogy to other F0-directed inhibitors, DES inhibits both the ATPase and ATP-dependent proton-translocation activities of the purified and membrane bound enzyme. When added at low concentrations with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), a covalent inhibitor, DES acts synergistically to inhibit ATPase activity of the complex. At higher concentrations, DES restores DCCD-inhibited ATPase activity. However, there is no restoration of ATP-dependent proton translocation. Under these conditions DCCD remains covalently bound to the F0F1-ATPase complex and F1 remains bound to Fo. Significantly, when the F0F1-ATPase is inhibited by the Fo-directed inhibitor venturicidin rather than DCCD, DES is also able to restore ATPase activity. In contrast, DES is unable to restore ATPase activity to F0F1 preparations inhibited by the Fo-directed inhibitors oligomycin or tricyclohexyltin. However, combinations of [DES + DCCD] or [DES + venturicidin] can restore ATPase activity to F0F1 preparations inhibited by either oligomycin or tricyclohexyltin. Results presented here indicate that the F0 moiety of the rat liver mitochondrial proton ATPase contains a distinct binding site for DES. In addition, they suggest that at saturating concentrations simultaneous occupancy of the DES binding site and sites for either DCCD or venturicidin promote "uncoupled" ATP hydrolysis.