Modification of the F0 portion of the H+-translocating adenosinetriphosphatase complex of Escherichia coli by the water-soluble carbodiimide 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide and effect on the proton channeling function

1-Ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC), a water-soluble carbodiimide, inhibited ECF1-F0 ATPase activity and proton translocation through F0 when reacted with Escherichia coli membrane vesicles. The site of modification was found to be in subunit c of the F0 portion of the enzyme but did not involve Asp-61, the site labeled by the hydrophobic carbodiimide dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD). EDC was not covalently incorporated into subunit c in contrast to DCCD. Instead, EDC promoted a cross-link between the C-terminal carboxyl group (Ala-79) and a near-neighbor phosphatidylethanolamine as evidenced by fragmentation of subunit c with cyanogen bromide followed by high-pressure liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography.     

Structural asymmetry of the F1 of Escherichia coli as indicated by reaction with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) inhibits the ATPase activity of F1 from Escherichia coli by covalent modification of a single glutamic acid in the beta subunit. 95% inhibition was obtained after incorporation of around 1 mole of DCCD per mole F1, i.e. 1 mole of reagent per 3 beta subunits; and up to 2 moles of DCCD per mole F1 were readily incorporated into the protein. One of the 3 beta subunits per F1 can be crosslinked to the epsilon subunit by 1-ethyl-3-[3(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide (EDC). This beta subunit (beta 1) is here shown to be shielded from reaction with DCCD, presumably by its association with epsilon and also possibly the gamma subunit. Thus the three beta subunits are not equivalent in the enzyme complex.     

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.     

Mutation of alanine 24 to serine in subunit c of the Escherichia coli F1F0-ATP synthase reduces reactivity of aspartyl 61 with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide.

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) inhibits the activity of the F1F0-H+ ATP synthase of Escherichia coli by reacting with aspartyl 61 in subunit c of the FO sector to form a stable N-acylurea. The segment of chromosomal DNA which codes the subunits of the FO was cloned from four independently isolated DCCD-resistant mutants, and the sequence of the subunit c gene (uncE) was determined. An Ala24 to serine (A24S) substitution was found in the subunit c gene of each mutant. The A24S uncE gene was cloned into the BamHI site of a mutant derivative of plasmid pBR322. The A24S subunit c conferred DCCD resistance to a variety of recipient E. coli strains when it was overexpressed from this plasmid. A 7-base pair deletion beginning at position 132 of the plasmid vector was responsible for the observed overexpression. Hoppe et al. (Hoppe, J., Schairer, H. U., and Sebald, W. (1980) Eur. J. Biochem. 112, 17-24) had previously shown that mutation of subunit c Ile28 to threonine or valine resulted in DCCD resistance. The DCCD sensitivities of the membrane ATPase of these mutants and the A24S mutant were compared. DCCD sensitivity decreased in the order: wild-type much greater than I27V greater than I28T = A24S. The venturicidin sensitivities of wild-type and mutant membranes were also examined. The membrane ATPase of the I28T and I28V mutants was venturicidin resistant whereas the A24S substitution resulted in a hypersensitivity to inhibition by venturicidin. These results support a model in which subunit c folds in the membrane like a hairpin, where the region of residues 24-28 in transmembrane helix-1 is close to that of aspartyl 61 in transmembrane helix-2.     

Delta protein kinase C interacts with the d subunit of the F1F0 ATPase in neonatal cardiac myocytes exposed to hypoxia or phorbol ester. Implications for F1F0 ATPase regulation

Mitochondrial protein kinase C isozymes have been reported to mediate both cardiac ischemic preconditioning and ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, cardiac preconditioning improves the recovery of ATP levels after ischemia/reperfusion injury. We have, therefore, evaluated protein kinase C modulation of the F(1)F(0) ATPase in neonatal cardiac myocytes. Exposure of cells to 3 or 100 nM 4beta-phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate induced co-immunoprecipitation of delta protein kinase C (but not alpha, epsilon, or zeta protein kinase C) with the d subunit of the F(1)F(0) ATPase. This co-immunoprecipitation correlated with 40+/-3% and 72+/-9% inhibitions of oligomycin-sensitive F(1)F(0) ATPase activity, respectively. We observed prominent expression of delta protein kinase C in cardiac myocyte mitochondria, which was enhanced following a 4-h hypoxia exposure. In contrast, hypoxia decreased mitochondrial zetaPKC levels by 85+/-1%. Following 4 h of hypoxia, F(1)F(0) ATPase activity was inhibited by 75+/-9% and delta protein kinase C co-immunoprecipitated with the d subunit of F(1)F(0) ATPase. In vitro incubation of protein kinase C with F(1)F(0) ATPase enhanced F(1)F(0) activity in the absence of protein kinase C activators and inhibited it in the presence of activators. Recombinant delta protein kinase C also inhibited F(1)F(0) ATPase activity. Protein kinase C overlay assays revealed delta protein kinase C binding to the d subunit of F(1)F(0) ATPase, which was modulated by diacylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, and cardiolipin. Our results suggest a novel regulation of the F(1)F(0) ATPase by the delta protein kinase C isozyme.     

Chemical modification of F1-ATPase by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide: application to analysis of the stoichiometry of subunits in Escherichia coli F1

N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) covalently binds to the beta subunit of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase (BF1). The ATPase activity is fully inhibited when 1 mol of DCCD is bound/mol of BF1, in spite of the fact that BF1 contains several beta subunits [Satre, M., Lunardi, J., Pougeois, R., & Vignais, P.V. (1979) Biochemistry 18, 3134-3140]. Advantage was taken of the reactivity of DCCD with respect to BF1 to determine the exact stoichiometry of the beta subunits in BF1. Two methods were used. The first one was based on the fact that modification of the beta subunit by DCCD results in the disappearance of one negative charge, due to the binding of DCCD to a carboxyl group of the beta subunit. The nonmodified and the modified beta subunits were separated by electrofocusing, and the percentage of modified beta subunits was assessed as a function of the percentage of ATPase inactivation. The second method relied on direct comparison, after inactivation of BF1 by [14C]DCCD, of the specific radioactivities of the whole BF1 and the isolated beta subunits. Both methods indicate that each molecule of BF1 contains three beta subunits.     

Structural and functional characterization of subunits of the F0 sector of the mitochondrial F0F1-ATP synthase.

Proteolytic digestion of F1-depleted submitochondrial particles (USMP), reconstitution with isolated subunits and titration with inhibitors show that the nuclear-encoded PVP protein, previously identified as an intrinsic component of bovine heart F0 (F01) (Zanotti, F. et al. (1988) FEBS Lett. 237, 9-14), is critically involved in maintaining the proper H+ translocating configuration of this sector and its correct binding to the F1 catalytic moiety. Trypsin digestion of USMP, under conditions leading to cleavage of the carboxyl region of the PVP protein and partial inhibition of transmembrane H+ translocation, results in general loss of sensitivity of this process to F0 inhibitors. This is restored by addition of the isolated PVP protein. Trypsin digestion of USMP causes also loss of oligomycin sensitivity of the catalytic activity of membrane reconstituted soluble F1, which can be restored by the combined addition of PVP and OSCP, or PVP and F6. Amino acid sequence analysis shows that, in USMP, modification by [14C] N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide of subunit c of F0 induces the formation of a dimer of this protein, which retains the 14C-labelled group. Chemical modification of cysteine-64 of subunit c results in inhibition of H+ conduction by F0. The results indicate that proton conduction in mitochondrial F0 depends on interaction of subunit c with the PVP protein.     

Analysis of myelin proteolipid protein and F0ATPase subunit 9 in normal andjimpy CNS

Membrane fractions and chloroform-methanol (C-M) extracts ofjimpy (jp) and normal CNS at 17–20 days were examined by immunoblot and sequence analysis to determine whether myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) or DM-20 could be detected in jp CNS. No reactivity was detected in jp samples with several PLP antibodies (Abs) except with one Ab to amino acids 109–128 of normal PLP. Proteins in the immunoreactive bands 26 Mr comigrating with PLP were sequenced for the first 10–12 residues. A sequence corresponding to PLP was found in normal CNS, as expected, but not in the band from jp CNS. Our results provide no evidence for an aberrant form of PLP in jp CNS at 17–20 days. This and other studies suggest that the abnormalities in jp brain are not due to toxicity of the mutant jp PLP/DM-20 proteins. Interestingly, a sequence identical to the amino terminus of the mature proton channel subunit 9 of mitochondrial F₀ ATPase was detected in the immunoreactive bands 26 Mr in both normal and jp samples. This identification was supported by reactivity with an Ab to the F₀ subunit and by labeling with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD). In contrast to PLP isolated from whole CNS, PLP isolated from myelin was devoid of F₀ subunit 9 based on sequence analysis and lack of reactivity with an Ab to the F₀ subunit, yet still reacted with DCCD. This finding rules out the possibility that contaminating F₀ ATPase gives rise to the DCCD binding exhibited by PLP and confirms the possibility that PLP has proton channel activity, as suggested by Lin and Lees (1,2).Abbreviations used Ab antibody - CM conditioned medium - C M chloroform-methanol - DCCD dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - jp jimpy - Mr mobility (apparent m.w×10^–3) - PLP proteolipid protein - PVDF polyvinylidene difluoride     

Plant mitochondrial F0F1 ATP synthase. Identification of the individual subunits and properties of the purified spinach leaf mitochondrial ATP synthase.

Spinach leaf mitochondrial F0F1 ATPase has been purified and is shown to consist of twelve polypeptides. Five of the polypeptides constitute the F1 part of the enzyme. The remaining polypeptides, with molecular masses of 28 kDa, 23 kDa, 18.5 kDa, 15 kDa, 10.5 kDa, 9.5 kDa and 8.5 kDa, belong to the F0 part of the enzyme. This is the first report concerning identification of the subunits of the plant mitochondrial F0. The identification of the components is achieved on the basis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis and Western blot technique using monospecific antibodies against proteins characterized in other sources. The 28-kDa protein crossreacts with antibodies against the subunit of bovine heart ATPase with N-terminal Pro-Val-Pro- which corresponds to subunit F0b of Escherichia coli F0F1. Sequence analysis of the N-terminal 32 amino acids of the 23-kDa protein reveals that this protein is similar to mammalian oligomycin-sensitivity-conferring protein and corresponds to the F1 delta subunit of the chloroplast and E. coli ATPases. The 18.5-kDa protein crossreacts with antibodies against subunit 6 of the beef heart F0 and its N-terminal sequence of 14 amino acids shows a high degree of sequence similarity to the conserved regions at N-terminus of the ATPase subunits 6 from different sources. ATPase subunit 6 corresponds to subunit F0a of the E. coli enzyme. The 15-kDa protein and the 10.5-kDa protein crossreact with antibodies against F6 and the endogenous ATPase inhibitor protein of beef heart F0F1-ATPase, respectively. The 9.5-kDa protein is an N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-binding protein corresponding to subunit F0c of the E. coli enzyme. The 8.5-kDa protein is of unknown identity. The isolated spinach mitochondrial F0F1 ATPase catalyzes oligomycin-sensitive ATPase activity of 3.5 mumol.mg-1.min-1. The enzyme catalyzes also hydrolysis of GTP (7.5 mumol.mg-1.min-1) and ITP (4.4 mumol.mg-1.min-1). Hydrolysis of ATP was stimulated fivefold in the presence of amphiphilic detergents, however the hydrolysis of other nucleotides could not be stimulated by these agents. These results show that the plant mitochondrial F0F1 ATPase complex differs in composition from the other mitochondrial, chloroplast and bacterial ATPases. The enzyme is, however, more closely related to the yeast mitochondrial ATPase and to the animal mitochondrial ATPase than to the chloroplast enzyme. The plant mitochondrial enzyme, however, exhibits catalytic properties which are characteristic for the chloroplast enzyme.     

Mutations in the conserved proline 43 residue of the uncE protein (subunit c) of Escherichia coli F1F0-ATPase alter the coupling of F1 to F0

The conserved Pro43 residue of the uncE protein (subunit c) of the Escherichia coli F1F0-ATPase was changed to Ser or Ala by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis, and the mutations were incorporated into the chromosome. The resultant mutant strains were capable of oxidative phosphorylation as indicated by their ability to grow on succinate and had growth yields on glucose that were 80-90% of wild type. Membrane vesicles from the mutants were slightly less efficient than wild type vesicles in ATP-driven proton pumping as indicated by ATP-dependent quenching of quinacrine fluorescence. The decreased quenching response was not due to increased H+ leakiness of the mutant membranes or to loss of F1-ATPase activity from the membrane. These results indicate that the mutant F1F0-ATPases are defective in coupling ATP hydrolysis to H+ translocation. The membrane ATPase activity of the mutants was inhibited less by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide than that of wild type. The decrease in sensitivity to inhibition by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was caused primarily by dissociation of the F1-ATPase from the mutant F0 in the ATPase assay mixture. These results support the idea that Pro43, and neighboring conserved polar residues play an important role in the binding and functional coupling of F1 to F0. Although a Pro residue is found at position 43 in all species of subunit c studied, surprisingly, it is not absolutely essential to function.     

Mitochondrial ATP synthase complex: interaction of its F1 adenosinetriphosphatase moiety with the heavy atom iodine

Studies were carried out to determine whether a simple electron-dense "heavy atom" like iodine could be introduced selectively into one or more of the subunits of the mitochondrial ATP synthase complex of rat liver. Surprisingly, very low amounts of iodine are incorporated into the isolated F1 moiety of this complex under conditions which result in a marked loss of catalytic activity. ATPase activity is inactivated in a concentration-dependent manner at pH 7.5 with half-maximal inactivation occurring at about 40 microM iodine. A maximum of only 10 atoms of iodine are incorporated per F1 molecule under conditions where inhibition of ATPase activity is linearly related to iodine incorporation. The molecular size of F1 after iodination is unchanged, indicating that inactivation is due to modification of essential amino acid residues rather than subunit dissociation. Treatment of F1, with 20-50 microM [125I]iodine followed sequentially by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography showed that the beta subunit is preferentially labeled. Significantly, about two atoms of iodine per beta subunit are incorporated. Some iodine amounting to less than 23% of the total radioactivity placed on the gels is recovered in the alpha and gamma subunits whereas no radioactivity is detected in the delta and epsilon subunits. Iodination of F1 appears to modify essential residues other than those involved in substrate or product binding per se. Thus, nucleotide binding to F1 is unaltered by iodine, and neither phosphate, MgADP, nor MgATP protects F1 against inhibition by this agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modification of isolated subunit c of the F1F0-ATPase from Propionigenium modestum by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

Subunit c of the F₁F₀-ATPase from Propionigenium modestum was extracted from the particulate cell fraction with chloroform/methanol. The protein was further purified by carboxymethyl cellulose chromatography and anion exchange HPLC in the organic solvent. SDS-PAGE of the purified protein indicated a single stained protein band migrating as expected for the c-subunit. Incubation of isolated subunit c in chlorform/methanol or aqueous buffer containing dodecyl-β- -maltoside with [¹⁴C]dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into the protein. The rate of this reaction depended on the external pH; it was significantly faster in the more acidic than in the alkaline pH range. In the presence of Na⁺ subunit c was partially protected from labeling with [¹⁴C]DCCD at pH 6.1 and at pH 7.5, whereas no protection was evident at pH 5.5. At pH 7.5, the rate of subunit c labeling by [¹⁴C]DCCD in the presence of 20 mM NaCl was about 50% lower than in the absence of Na⁺ ions. The isolated c-subunit therefore apparently retains in part the Na⁺ binding site which, when occupied, diminishes the reactivity of the protein towards DCCD.     

Purification and functional properties of the DCCD-reactive proteolipid subunit of the H+-translocating ATPase from Mycobacterium phlei

Interaction of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) with ATPase of Mycobacterium phlei membranes results in inactivation of ATPase activity. The rate of inactivation of ATPase was pseudo-first order for the initial 30-65% inactivation over a concentration range of 5-50 microM DCCD. The second-order rate constant of the DCCD-ATPase interaction was k = 8.5 X 10(5) M-1 X min(-1). The correlation between the initial binding of [14C]DCCD and 100% inactivation of ATPase activity shows 1.57 nmol DCCD bound per mg membrane protein. The proteolipid subunit of the F0F1-ATPase complex in membranes of M. phlei with which DCCD covalently reacts to inhibit ATPase was isolated by labeling with [14C]DCCD. The proteolipid was purified from the membrane in free and DCCD-modified form by extraction with chloroform/methanol and subsequent chromatography on Sephadex LH-20. The polypeptide was homogeneous on SDS-acrylamide gel electrophoresis and has an apparent molecular weight of 8000. The purified proteolipid contains phosphatidylinositol (67%), phosphatidylethanolamine (18%) and cardiolipin (8%). Amino acid analysis indicates that glycine, alanine and leucine were present in elevated amounts, resulting in a polarity of 27%. Cysteine and tryptophan were lacking. Butanol-extracted proteolipid mediated the translocation of protons across the bilayer, in K+-loaded reconstituted liposomes, in response to a membrane potential difference induced by valinomycin. The proton translocation was inhibited by DCCD, as measured by the quenching of fluorescence of 9-aminoacridine. Studies show that vanadate inhibits the proton gradient driven by ATP hydrolysis in membrane vesicles of M. phlei by interacting with the proteolipid subunit sector of the F0F1-ATPase complex.     

ATP synthase complex from bovine heart mitochondria: the oligomycin sensitivity conferring protein is essential for dicyclohexyl carbodiimide-sensitive ATPase.

The requirement of bovine heart mitochondrial oligomycin sensitivity conferring protein (OSCP) in conferring dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-sensitivity to membrane-bound F1 was investigated by using OSCP-depleted membrane fraction (UF0) of ATP synthase. The ATPase activity of UF0-F1 was completely insensitive to DCCD while that of UF0-F1-OSCP was inhibited 95% by 16 microM DCCD. Both UF0-F1 and UF0-F1-OSCP complexes bound 5 nmol [14C]DCCD/mg UF0, and all the radioactivity was found to be associated with the DCCD-binding proteolipid. The data suggest that OSCP may be necessary for transmitting not only energy-linked signals, but also signals induced by F0 inhibitory ligands in mitochondrial energy transduction.     

Simultaneous bindings of ATPase inhibitor and 9K protein to F1F0-ATPase in the presence of 15K protein in yeast mitochondria

Yeast mitochondrial ATP synthase has three regulatory proteins, ATPase inhibitor, 9K protein, and 15K protein. The 9K protein binds directly to purified F1-ATPase, as does the ATPase inhibitor, but the 15K protein does not [Hashimoto, T. et al. (1987) J. Biochem. 102, 685-692]. In the present study, we found that 15K protein bound to purified F1F0-ATPase, forming an equimolar complex with the enzyme. The apparent dissociation constant was calculated to be 1.4 x 10(-5) M. The ATPase inhibitor and 9K protein also bound to F1F0-ATPase in the presence of ATP and Mg2+, and the dissociation constants of their bindings were about 3 X 10(-6) M. They bound to the enzyme competitively in the absence of 15K protein, but in its presence, they bound in equimolar amounts to the enzyme. The ATP-hydrolyzing activity of the enzyme-ligand complex was greatly influenced by the order of bindings of ATPase inhibitor and 9K protein: when the ATPase inhibitor was bound first, the activity of the enzyme was inhibited completely and was not restored by 9K protein, but when 9K protein was added first, the activity was inhibited only partially even after equimolar binding of the ATPase inhibitor to the enzyme. These observations strongly suggest that the 15K protein binds to the F0 part and functions to hold the ATPase inhibitor or 9K protein on the F1 subunit.     

The c15 ring of the Spirulina platensis F-ATP synthase: F1/F0 symmetry mismatch is not obligatory

The oligomeric c ring of the F-ATP synthase from the alkaliphilic cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis was isolated and characterized. Mass spectroscopy analysis indicated a mass of 8,210 Da, reflecting that of a c monomer. The mass increased by 206 Da after treatment with the c-subunit-specific inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), which indicated modification of the ion-binding carboxylate by DCCD. Atomic force microscopy topographs of c rings from S. platensis showed 15 symmetrically assembled subunits. The c15-mer reported here is the largest c ring that is isolated and does not show the classical c-ring mismatch to the three-fold symmetry of the F1 domain.     

Binding of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to a native F1-ATPase-inhibitor protein complex isolated from bovine heart mitochondria

The effect and the binding of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) to a soluble native F1-ATPase-inhibitor protein complex (F1-IP) isolated from heart mitochondria was studied. About one mol DCCD bound per mol F1-IP complex; this inhibited its ATPase activity by more than 95%, ever under conditions that led to maximal hydrolysis. Bound DCCD localized to beta-subunits of the F1-IP complex. Cross-linking of the DCCD labeled complex with N-(ethoxy-carbonyl)-2-ethoxydihydroquinoline yielded a protein with a Mr 65,000-67,000 that contained IP as evidenced by its reaction with IP antibodies. No alpha-subunits were detected in this cross-linked product. The Mr 65,000-67,000 protein corresponds to beta-subunits cross-linked with IP (Klein et al, Biochemistry 1980; 19, 2919-2925). However, no DCCD was found in the cross-linked beta-subunit-IP product of labeled native F1-IP. Thus the beta-subunit in contact with IP is distinct from the other two beta-subunits of the enzyme.     

Mitochondrial ATP synthase complex. Membrane topography and stoichiometry of the F0 subunits.

The topography of the subunits of the membrane sector F0 of the ATP synthase complex in the bovine mitochondrial inner membrane was studied with the help of subunit-specific antibodies raised to the F0 subunits b, d, 6, F6, A6L, OSCP (oligomycin-sensitivity-conferring protein), and N,N' -dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD)-binding proteolipid and to the ATPase inhibitor protein (IF1) as an internal control. Exposure of F0 subunits in inverted and right-side-out inner membranes was investigated by direct antibody binding as well as by susceptibility of these subunits to degradation by various proteases as monitored by gel electrophoresis of the membrane digests and immunoblotting with the subunit-specific antibodies. Results show that subunits b, d, F6, A6L (including its C-terminal end) and OSCP were exposed on the matrix side. Sufficient masses of these subunits to recognize antibodies or undergo proteolysis were not exposed on the cytosolic side. This was also the case for subunit 6 and the DCCD-binding proteolipid on either side of the inner membrane. Quantitative immunoblotting in which bound radio-activity from [125I]protein A was employed to estimate the concentration of an antigen in a sample allowed the determination of the stoichiometry of several F0 subunits and IF1 relative to F1-ATPase. Results showed that per mol of F1 there are in bovine heart mitochondria 1 mol each of d, OSCP, and IF1, and 2 mol each of b and F6. Subunit 6 and the DCCD-binding proteolipid could not be quantitated, because the former transferred poorly to nitrocellulose and the latter's antibody did not bind [125I]protein A.     

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.     

Role of F0 and F1 subunits in the gating and coupling function of mitochondrial H(+)-ATP synthase. The effect of dithiol reagents.

A study is presented on the role of F0 and F1 subunits in oligomycin-sensitive H+ conduction and energy transfer reactions of bovine heart mitochondrial F0F1 H(+)-ATP synthase. Mild treatment with azodicarboxylic acid bis(dimethylamide) (diamide) enhanced oligomycin-sensitive H+ conduction in submitochondrial particles containing F1 attached to F0. This effect was associated with stimulation of the ATPase activity, with no effect on its inhibition by oligomycin, and depression of the 32Pi-ATP exchange. The stimulatory effect of diamide on H+ conduction decreased in particles from which F1 subunits were partially removed by urea. The stimulatory effect exerted by diamide in the submitochondrial particles with F1 attached to F0 was directly correlated with a decrease of the original electrophoretic bands of a subunit of F0 (F0I-PVP protein) and the gamma subunit of F1, with corresponding formation of their cross-linking product. In F0 liposomes, devoid of gamma subunit, diamide failed to stimulate H+ conduction and to cause disappearance of F0I-PVP protein, unless purified gamma subunit was added back. The addition to F0 liposomes of gamma subunit, but not that of alpha and beta subunits, caused per se inhibition of H+ conduction. It is concluded that F0I-PVP and gamma subunits are directly involved in the gate of the F0F1 H(+)-ATP synthase. Data are also presented indicating contribution to the gate of oligomycin-sensitivity conferral protein and of another protein subunit of F0, F6.