Chloroplast F1 ATPase has more than three nucleotide binding sites, and 2-azido-ADP or 2-azido-ATP at both catalytic and noncatalytic sites labels the beta subunit

The photolabeling of chloroplast F1 ATPase, following exposure to Mg2+ and 2-azido-ATP and separation from medium nucleotides, results in derivatization of two separate peptide regions of the beta subunit. Up to 3 mol of the analogue can be incorporated per mole of CF1, with covalent binding of one moiety or two moieties per beta subunit that can be either AMP, ADP, or ATP derivatives. These results, the demonstration of noncovalent tight binding of at least four [3H]adenine nucleotides to the enzyme and the presence of three beta subunits per enzyme, point to six potential adenine nucleotide binding sites per molecule. The tightly bound 2-azido nucleotides on CF1, found after exposure of the heat-activated and EDTA-treated enzyme to Mg2+ and 2-azido-ATP, differ in their ease of replacement during subsequent hydrolysis of ATP. Some of the bound nucleotides are not readily replaced during catalytic turnover and covalently label one peptide region of the beta subunit. They are on noncatalytic sites. Other tightly bound nucleotides are readily replaced during catalytic turnover and label another peptide region of the beta subunit. They are at catalytic sites. No alpha-subunit labeling is detected upon photolysis of the bound 2-azido nucleotides. However, one or both of the sites could be at an alpha-beta-subunit interface with the 2-azido region close to the beta subunit, or both binding sites may be largely or entirely on the beta subunit.     

Demonstration of two exchangeable non-catalytic and two cooperative catalytic sites in isolated bovine heart mitochondrial F1, using the photoaffinity labels [2-3H]8-azido-ATP and [2-3H]8-azido-ADP

The photoreactive nucleotides [2-3H]8-azido-ATP and [2-3H]8-azido-ADP could be used to label the nucleotide binding sites on isolated mitochondrial F1-ATPase to a maximum of 4 mol of nucleotide per mol F1, also when the F1 was depleted of tightly bound nucleotides. At a photolabel concentration of 300-1000 microM, label was found on both alpha and beta subunits in a typically 1:3 ratio, independent of the total amount bound. Under these conditions the covalent binding of two nucleotides is needed for full inactivation (Wagenvoord, R.J., Van der Kraan, I. and Kemp, A. (1977) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 460, 17-24). At lower concentrations of [2-3H]8-azido-ATP (20 microM), it was found that covalent binding of only 1 mol of nucleotide per mole F1 was required for complete inactivation to take place indicating catalytic site cooperativity in the mechanism of ATP hydrolysis. Under those conditions, radioactivity was only found on the beta subunits, which would indicate that the catalytic site is located on a beta subunit and that a second site is located on the alpha/beta interface. It is found that four out of the six nucleotide binding sites are exchangeable and can be labelled with 8-azido-AT(D)P, i.e., two catalytic sites and two non-catalytic sites.     

Catalytic properties of the Escherichia coli proton adenosinetriphosphatase: evidence that nucleotide bound at noncatalytic sites is not involved in regulation of oxidative phosphorylation

Nucleotide-depleted F1-ATPase from Escherichia coli was reconstituted with F1-depleted membranes and shown to catalyze high rates of oxidative phosphorylation of ADP and GDP. Adenine nucleotide became bound to the nonexchangeable nucleotide sites on membrane-bound F1 during ATP synthesis, but binding of guanine nucleotides to nonexchangeable sites during GTP synthesis was not detectable. It was possible to reload the nonexchangeable sites on nucleotide-depleted F1 with radioactive adenine nucleotide prior to membrane reconstitution. The radioactive adenine nucleotide did not exchange significantly during oxidative phosphorylation of ADP or GDP. The amount of nonexchangeable adenine nucleotide found in membrane-bound F1 was the same when the nonexchangeable sites were reloaded either prior to membrane reconstitution of the F1 or after membrane reconstitution with nucleotide-free F1 followed by a burst of oxidative phosphorylation of ADP. The results showed that occupation of the nonexchangeable sites on F1 by tightly bound nucleotide is not required for oxidative phosphorylation of GDP (a physiological activity of F1 in the bacterial cell). Also, the results confirm directly that the adenine-specific nonexchangeable sites on F1 are noncatalytic sites. Using this experimental approach, it was possible to look for a regulatory effect of the nonexchangeable nucleotide on oxidative phosphorylation. Nucleotide-depleted F1 was first reloaded with (i) ATP, (ii) ADP, (iii) 5'-adenylyl imidodiphosphate, or (iv) zero nucleotide, and was then reconstituted with F1-depleted membranes. The reconstituted membranes were compared in respect to rates of oxidative phosphorylation of GDP and Km values of GDP and Pi. No regulatory role for the nonexchangeable nucleotide was evident.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Binding of adenine nucleotides to the F1-inhibitor protein complex of bovine heart submitochondrial particles.

The binding of ATP radiolabeled in the adenine ring or in the gamma- or alpha-phosphate to F1-ATPase in complex with the endogenous inhibitor protein was measured in bovine heart submitochondrial particles by filtration in Sephadex centrifuge columns or by Millipore filtration techniques. These particles had 0.44 +/- 0.05 nmol of F1 mg-1 as determined by the method of Ferguson et al. [(1976) Biochem. J. 153, 347]. By incubation of the particles with 50 microM ATP, and low magnesium concentrations (less than 0.1 microM MgATP), it was possible to observe that 3.5 mol of [gamma-32P]ATP was tightly bound per mole of F1 before the completion of one catalytic cycle. With [gamma-32P]ITP, only one tight binding site was detected. Half-maximal binding of adenine nucleotides took place with about 10 microM. All the bound radioactive nucleotides were released from the enzyme after a chase with cold ATP or ADP; 1.5 sites exchanged with a rate constant of 2.8 s-1 and 2 with a rate constant of 0.45 s-1. Only one of the tightly bound adenine nucleotides was released by 1 mM ITP; the rate constant was 3.2 s-1. It was also observed that two of the bound [gamma-32P]ATP were slowly hydrolyzed after removal of medium ATP; when the same experiment was repeated with [alpha-32P]ATP, all the label remained bound to F1, suggesting that ADP remained bound after completion of ATP hydrolysis. Particles in which the natural ATPase inhibitor protein had been released bound tightly only one adenine nucleotide per enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Specificity of the proton adenosinetriphosphatase of Escherichia coli for adenine, guanine, and inosine nucleotides in catalysis and binding

Specificity of the Escherichia coli proton ATPase for adenine, guanine, and inosine nucleotides in catalysis and binding was studied. MgADP, CaADP, MgGDP, and MgIDP were each good substrates for oxidative phosphorylation. The corresponding triphosphates were each substrates for hydrolysis and proton pumping. At 1 mM concentration, MgATP, MgGTP, and MgITP drove proton pumping with equal efficiency. At 0.1 mM concentration, MgATP was 4-fold more efficient than MgITP or MgGTP. Nucleotide-depleted soluble F1 could rebind to F1-depleted membranes and block proton conductivity through F0; rebound nucleotide-depleted F1 catalyzed pH gradient formation with MgATP, MgGTP, or MgITP. This showed that the nonexchangeable nucleotide sites on F1 need not be occupied by adenine nucleotide for proton pumping to occur. It was further shown that no nucleotide was tightly bound in the nonexchangeable sites of F1 during proton pumping driven by MgGTP in these reconstituted membranes, whereas adenine nucleotide was tightly bound when MgATP was the substrate. Nucleotide-depleted soluble F1 bound maximally 5.9 ATP, 3.2 GTP, and 3.6 ITP of which half the ATP and almost all of the GTP and ITP exchanged over a period of 30-240 min with medium ADP or ATP. Also, half of the bound ATP exchanged with medium GTP or ITP. These data showed that inosine and guanine nucleotides do not bind to soluble F1 in nonexchangeable fashion, in contrast to adenine nucleotides. Purified alpha-subunit from F1 bound ATP at a single site but showed no binding of GTP nor ITP, supporting previous suggestions that the non-exchangeable sites in intact F1 are on alpha-subunits.     

Significant quantities of endogenous GDP and ADP are present on catalytic sites of the F1-ATPase isolated from M. lysodeikticus in the absence of added nucleotides.

The F1-ATPase from Micrococcus lysodeikticus is isolated in the absence of exogenous nucleotides. After removing loosely bound nucleotides from the isolated enzyme by gel permeation chromatography, analysis for tightly bound nucleotides revealed in 14 experiments 0.4 +/- 0.1 mol ADP, 0.5 +/- 0.2 mol GDP, and 0.8 +/- 0.2 mol ATP per mol of F1. Incubation of the isolated enzyme with Mg2+ or Ca2+ did not alter the endogenous nucleotide composition of the enzyme, indicating that endogenous ATP is not bound to a catalytic site. Incubation of the enzyme with P(i) decreased the amount of tightly bound ADP and GDP but did not effect the ATP content. Hydrolysis of MgATP in the presence of sulfite raised the tightly bound ADP and lowered tightly bound GDP on the enzyme. In the reciprocal experiment, hydrolysis of MgGTP in the presence of sulfite raised tightly bound GDP and lowered tightly bound ADP. Turnover did not affect the content of tightly bound ATP on the enzyme. These results suggest that endogenous ADP and GDP are bound to exchangeable catalytic sites, whereas endogenous ATP is bound to noncatalytic sites which do not exchange. The presence of endogenous GDP on catalytic sites of isolated F1 suggests that the F0F1-ATP synthase of M. lysodeikticus might synthesize both GTP and ATP under physiological conditions. In support of this hypothesis, we have found that plasma membrane vesicles derived from M. lysodeikticus synthesize [32P]GTP from [32P]P(i) using malate as electron donor for oxidative phosphorylation.     

Characterization of the nucleotide tight-binding sites of the isolated mitochondrial F1-ATPase

The properties of the nucleotides tightly bound with mitochondrial F1-ATPase were examined. One of three bound nucleotide molecules is localized at the site with Kd approximately 10(-7) M and released with koff approximately 0.1 s-1. The second nucleotide molecule is bound with the enzyme with Kd approximately 10(-8) M and koff for its dissociation is 3 X 10(-4) s-1. The third is never released even in the presence of 1 mM ATP or ADP. The last two nucleotides are believed to be bound at the noncatalytic sites of F1-ATPase. Pyrophosphate promotes liberation of two releasable nucleotide molecules, decreasing the affinity of the enzyme to AD(T)P. From the results obtained it follows that the only suitable criterion for localization of the nucleotide at the F1-ATPase catalytic site is the high rate (koff greater than or equal to 0.1 s-1) of its spontaneous release.     

Relationship of tightly bound ADP and ATP to control and catalysis by chloroplast ATP synthase

Whether the tightly bound ADP that can cause a pronounced inhibition of ATP hydrolysis by the chloroplast ATP synthase and F1 ATPase (CF1) is bound at catalytic sites or at noncatalytic regulatory sites or both has been uncertain. We have used photolabeling by 2-azido-ATP and 2-azido-ADP to ascertain the location, with Mg2+ activation, of tightly bound ADP (a) that inhibits the hydrolysis of ATP by chloroplast ATP synthase, (b) that can result in an inhibited form of CF1 that slowly regains activity during ATP hydrolysis, and (c) that arises when low concentrations of ADP markedly inhibit the hydrolysis of GTP by CF1. The data show that in all instances the inhibition is associated with ADP binding without inorganic phosphate (Pi) at catalytic sites. After photophosphorylation of ADP or 2-azido-ADP with [32P]Pi, similar amounts of the corresponding triphosphates are present on washed thylakoid membranes. Trials with appropriately labeled substrates show that a small portion of the tightly bound 2-azido-ATP gives rise to covalent labeling with an ATP moiety at noncatalytic sites but that most of the bound 2-azido-ATP gives rise to covalent labeling by an ADP moiety at a catalytic site. We also report the occurrence of a 1-2-min delay in the onset of the Mg2+-induced inhibition after addition of CF1 to solutions containing Mg2+ and ATP, and that this delay is not associated with the filling of noncatalytic sites. A rapid burst of Pi formation is followed by a much lower, constant steady-state rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tightly bound nucleotides affect phosphate binding to mitochondrial F1-ATPase

The interaction of inorganic phosphate with native and nucleotide-depleted F1-ATPase was studied. F1-ATPase depleted of tightly bound nucleotides loses the ability to bind inorganic phosphate. The addition of ATP, ADP, GTP and GDP but not AMP, restores the phosphate binding. The nucleotides affecting the phosphate binding to F1-ATPase are located at the catalytic (exchangeable) site of the enzyme. The phosphate is thought to bind to the same catalytic site where the nucleotide is already bound. It is thought that ADP is the first substrate to bind to F1-ATPase in the ATP synthesis reaction.     

1H-NMR studies on nucleotide binding to the catalytic sites of bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase

The conformation of adenine nucleotides bound to bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase was investigated using transfer nuclear Overhauser enhancement measurements. It is shown that all nucleotides investigated adopt a predominantly anti conformation when bound to the catalytic sites. Furthermore, the experiment suggests that 8-azido-ADP and 8-azido-ATP, which are predominantly in the syn conformation in solution, are in the anti conformation when bound to F1 catalytic sites.     

Derivatization of the catalytic subunits of the chloroplast ATPase by 2-azido-ATP and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Evidence for catalytically induced interchange of the subunits

Modifications of the catalytic beta subunits of the chloroplast ATPase (CF1-ATPase) are reported which support the proposal that all three subunits participate sequentially during catalysis. The beta subunits of the CF1-ATPase are sufficiently homogeneous to allow detection of their derivatization with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) or the substrate analog 2-azido-ATP by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing. Whether the DCCD reacts with the same beta subunit that tightly binds ATP has not been known. Our results show that when CF1-ATPase is covalently labeled with 2-azido-ATP followed by reaction with DCCD, different beta subunits are labeled. The DCCD labeling does not stop catalytic cooperativity of the CF1-ATPase and allows slow enzyme turnover. When the DCCD-modified enzyme catalyzes 2-azido-ATP cleavage and the enzyme with tightly bound nucleotide is photolyzed, both DCCD-modified and unmodified subunits are randomly labeled by the azido nucleotide. This result is as expected if during the catalytic cycle one beta subunit with unique properties is replaced by another subunit that gains these properties. The participation of all three subunits in the catalytic cycle is suggested by the apparent retention of catalytic cooperativity by the two remaining subunits after one subunit has already catalyzed 2-azido-ATP cleavage and been labeled.     

Binding and hydrolysis of 2-azido-ATP and 8-azido-ATP by isolated mitochondrial F1: characterisation of high-affinity binding sites

The kinetic parameters for the hydrolysis by F1 of the photoreactive nucleotide analogue 2-azido-ATP were determined (Vmax, 105 U/mg F1; Km, 250 microM, in the presence of 1.0 mM SO2-3). In the absence of an activating anion, a non-linear relationship in a Lineweaver-Burk plot was found for the hydrolysis of 2-azido-ATP. The 2-azido-analogues of ATP and ADP proved to be good photoaffinity labels causing notable inactivation of the F1-ATPase activity upon irradiation at 360 nm. This inhibition was also used to demonstrate high-affinity binding of these analogues to a catalytic binding site on the F1. High-affinity binding proved to be an Mg2+-requiring process, occurring with both 2-azido-ATP and 2-azido-ADP but hardly or not occurring with 8-azido-AT(D)P. Covalent binding of 2-nitreno-ATP upon irradiation of F1 containing tightly bound [beta-32P]2-azido-ATP results in a proportional inhibition of ATPase activity, extrapolating to 0.92 mol of covalently bound label per mol of F1 needed for the complete inactivation of the enzyme. When the F1 was irradiated in the presence of excess [beta-32P]2-azido-AT(D)P, 3-4 mol of label were bound when the enzyme was fully inactivated. In all cases, all or most of the radioactivity was found on the beta subunits.     

Covalent modification of the non-catalytic sites of the H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts with 2-azido-[alpha-(32)P]ATP and its effect on ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis

Incubation of the isolated H(+)-ATPase from chloroplasts, CF(0)F(1), with 2-azido-[alpha-(32)P]ATP leads to the binding of this nucleotide to different sites. These sites were identified after removal of free nucleotides, UV-irradiation and trypsin treatment by separation of the tryptic peptides by ion exchange chromatography. The nitreno-AMP, nitreno-ADP and nitreno-ATP peptides were further separated on a reversed phase column, the main fractions were subjected to amino acid sequence analysis and the derivatized tyrosines were used to distinguish between catalytic (beta-Tyr362) and non-catalytic (beta-Tyr385) sites. Several incubation procedures were developed which allow a selective occupation of each of the three non-catalytic sites. The non-catalytic site with the highest dissociation constant (site 6) becomes half maximally filled at 50 microM 2-azido-[alpha-(32)P]ATP, that with the intermediate dissociation constant (site 5) at 2 microM. The ATP at the site with the lowest dissociation constant had to be hydrolyzed first to ADP before a replacement by 2-azido-[alpha-(32)P]ATP was possible. CF(0)F(1) with non-covalently bound 2-azido-[alpha-(32)P]ATP and after covalent derivatization was reconstituted into liposomes and the rates of ATP synthesis as well as ATP hydrolysis were measured after energization of the proteoliposomes by Delta pH/Delta phi. Non-covalent binding of 2-azido-ATP to any of the three non-catalytic sites does not influence ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis, whereas covalent derivatization of any of the three sites inhibits both, the degree being proportional to the degree of derivatization. Extrapolation to complete inhibition indicates that derivatization of one site (either 4 or 5 or 6) is sufficient to block completely multi-site catalysis. The rates of ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis were measured as a function of the ADP and ATP concentration from uni-site to multi-site conditions with covalently derivatized and non-derivatized CF(0)F(1). Uni-site ATP synthesis and ATP hydrolysis were not inhibited by covalent derivatization of any of the non-catalytic sites, whereas multi-site catalysis is inhibited. These results indicate that multi-site catalysis requires some flexibility between beta- and alpha-subunits which is abolished by covalent derivatization of beta-Tyr385 with a 2-nitreno-adenine nucleotide. Conformational changes connected with energy transduction between the F(0)-part and the F(1)-part are either not required for uni-site ATP synthesis or they are not impaired by the derivatization of any of the three beta-Tyr385.     

Localisation of adenine nucleotide-binding sites on beef-heart mitochondrial ATPase by photolabelling with 8-azido-ADP and 8-azido-ATP.

1. In addition to the previously studied 8-azido-ATP, 8-azido-ADP is a suitable photoaffinity label for beef-heart mitochondrial ATPase (F1). 2. Photolysis at 350 nm of 8-azido-ADP in the presence of isolated F1 leads to inactivation of ATPase activity. Both ATP and ADP (but not AMP) protect against the inactivation. 3. In the absence of Mg2+, 8-azido-ADP binds almost equally to the alpha and beta subunits of F1, whereas in the presence of Mg2+ the alpha subunits are predominantly labelled. 4. The ATPase activity is completely inhibited when two molecules of 8-azido-ADP are bound per molecule F1. 5. 8-Azido-ATP and ATP are competitive substrates for F1, indicating that in the presence of Mg2+ 8-azido-ATP binds to the same site as ATP. 6. The amount of tightly bound nucleotides in F1 is not significantly changed upon incubation with 8-azido-ATP either in the light or the dark. 7. 8-Azido-ATP is also a suitadrial particles, photolabelling leading to inactivation of ATPase activity. 9. Oxidative phosphorylation and the ATP-driven reduction of NAD+ by succinate are also inhibited by photolabelling Mg-ATP particles with 8-azido-ATP. 10. In contrast to the uncoupled ATPase activity, where the two ATP-binding sites do not interact, cooperation between the two sites is required for ATP hydrolysis coupled to reduction of NAD+ by succinate.     

Adenine nucleotide-binding sites on beef heart F1-ATPase. Conditions that affect occupancy of catalytic and noncatalytic sites

Beef heart mitochondrial F1 contains a total of six adenine nucleotide-binding sites including at least two different types of sites. Three "exchangeable" sites exchange rapidly during hydrolysis of MgATP, whereas three "nonexchangeable" sites do not (Cross, R. L. and Nalin, C. M. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 2874-2881). When F1 that has been stored as a suspension in (NH4)2SO4/ATP/EDTA/sucrose/Tris, pH 8.0, is pelleted, rinsed with (NH4)2SO4, dissolved, and desalted, it retains three bound adenine nucleotides. We find that two of these endogenous nucleotides are bound at nonexchangeable sites and one at an exchangeable site. The vacant nonexchangeable site is highly specific for adenine nucleotide and is rapidly filled by ADP upon addition of ADP or during ATP hydrolysis. ADP bound at this site can be removed by reprecipitating the enzyme with (NH4)2SO4. The single nucleotide retained by desalted F1 at an exchangeable site is displaced during hydrolysis of ATP, GTP, or ITP. The binding of PPi at two sites on the enzyme also promotes its dissociation. Neither procedure affects retention of nucleotide at the nonexchangeable sites. These observations, combined with the finding that PPi is much more easily removed from exchangeable sites than ADP, have led to the development of a procedure for preparing F1 with uniform and well-defined nucleotide site occupancy. This involves sequential exposure to MgATP, PPi, and high concentrations of Pi. Unbound ligand is removed between each step. The resulting enzyme, F1[3,0], has three occupied nonexchangeable sites and three vacant exchangeable sites. Evidence that nonexchangeable and exchangeable sites represent noncatalytic and catalytic sites, respectively, suggest that this form of the enzyme will prove useful in numerous applications, including transient kinetic measurements and affinity labeling of active site residues.     

The catalytic site is located on subunit I of the ATPase from Halobacterium saccharovorum. A direct photoaffinity labeling study.

Nucleotide-binding sites of the ATPase from the halophilic archaebacterium Halobacterium saccharovorum were labeled by ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of [alpha-32P]ATP. A high-affinity site, located on subunit I (98 kDa), was identified as catalytic by the following criteria: ATP bound to subunit I was hydrolyzed and the cross-linked nucleotide was ADP; the specificity for ATP or ADP compared to that of other nucleotides was high; the tightly bound radionucleotide was exchangeable in the presence of excess unlabeled ATP and Mg2+; photolabeling of this site and enzyme inhibition due to tightly bound ADP were both dependent on the presence of Mg2+ and showed identical Kd values; treatment that restored the activity of the ADP-inhibited enzyme also led to the release of the tightly bound nucleotide from subunit I. In addition, a non-catalytic nucleotide-binding site was found, located on subunit II (71 kDa). This site did not hydrolyze ATP, its occupation was Mg2+ independent and the affinity for ATP and the nucleotide specificity were much lower than that of subunit I. We suspect that this site is nonspecific. These results indicate that H. saccharovorum ATPase is different from F1-ATPases which contain the catalytic site on the second largest subunit, but may be similar to other archaebacterial and vacuolar ATPases.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial F1-ATPase activity by binding of (2-azido-) ADP to a slowly exchangeable non-catalytic nucleotide binding site.

F1-ATPase was treated so that it contained three tightly bound nucleotides per molecule. One of these was bound at a catalytic site and was rapidly exchangeable, the two remaining nucleotides were nonexchangeable. Incubation of this preparation with ADP in the presence of Mg2+ results in 40-45% inhibition of the ATPase activity. With 2-azido-ADP instead of ADP, the ligand was covalently bound to F1 by illumination, in the presence or absence of turnover of the enzyme, and the site of binding was determined. In this way, one site could be identified, which induces the inhibition. The attachment of the covalently bound 2-nitreno-ADP is at Tyr-368 of a beta-subunit, characterized in the literature as a non-catalytic site. A second, non-catalytic site also binds 2-azido-ADP, but this binding is partially reversed by the addition of ATP and does not cause further inhibition of the ATPase activity. It is concluded that the slowly exchangeable non-catalytic site is the site of inhibition by ADP.     

Exchange and hydrolysis of tightly bound nucleotides in normal and photolabelled bovine heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase

Treatment of F1 by threefold fast-column centrifugation or by single ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by fast-column centrifugation resulted in enzyme preparations containing 2.5-2.8 mol of bound nucleotides per mol of F1. Short incubations of such F1 preparations in the presence of relatively low concentrations of [14C]ATP and 2-azido[alpha-32P]ATP (100-250 microM), followed by ammonium sulphate precipitation and fast-column centrifugation, resulted in exchange of about 1 mol of the bound nucleotide per mol of F1 not affecting the total amount of bound nucleotides. Exchange of bound nucleotides with 2-azidoATP, followed by ultraviolet irradiation, results in inhibition of the enzyme activity, full inhibition being obtained (via extrapolation) when 1 mol of 2-nitreno-adenosine 5'-tri- or diphosphate (2-N-AT(D)P) is covalently bound to the presumably catalytic site on the enzyme (Van Dongen, M.B.M., De Geus, J.P., Korver, T., Harton, A.F. and Berden, J.A. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 850, 359-368). In agreement with this, it was found that incorporated [gamma-32P]ATP was hydrolysed by more than 80%. Newly incorporated, not covalently bound radioactive nucleotides could be rapidly exchanged again by the addition of non-radioactive nucleotides, but a higher concentration of nucleotides was needed to fully exchange the incorporated nucleotide. Also, when F1 was depleted of most of its bound nucleotides by repeated ammonium sulphate precipitation, part of the residual nucleotides was still rapidly exchangeable. The ability of F1 to exchange (and hydrolyse) one of the bound nucleotides was not lost when one catalytic and one non-catalytic binding site were occupied by covalently bound 8-N-ATP. Similar results were obtained with F1 containing 2-nitrenoATP covalently bound to one of the catalytic sites. Also, after photolabelling of up to four binding sites with 8-N[( 2-3H]AT(D)P, part of the two remaining non-covalently bound nucleotides could still be rapidly exchanged. In this case the exchanged nucleotide was also hydrolysed. It is concluded that one of the two bound nucleotides became exchangeable when all four other sites (i.e., two catalytic and two non-catalytic) were occupied with covalently bound nucleotides. The site involved showed catalytic properties suggestive of localisation on a beta-subunit.     

pH dependent changes in ADP and ATP affinity for the tight nucleotide-binding site of chloroplast coupling factor 1

The pH-dependence of ADP and ATP affinity for CF₁ tight nucleotide-binding sites was studied under conditions of equilibrium between bound and free labeled nucleotides. With the nucleotide/CF₁ ratio>1, the ATP content in tightly bound nucleotides depended only slightly on medium pH. With the nucleotide/CF₁ ratio approaching 1, tightly bound ATP content grew rapidly with decreasing pH. Calculations of ADP/ATP ratio in free and tightly bound nucleotides showed that decreasing the pH from 8.0 to 6.0 induced a 150 times greater affinity of the nucleotide-binding site for ATP than for ADP. The data indicates that ATP-ADP equilibrium at the CF₁ tight nucleotide-binding site depends on protonation of specific acid-base groups of the enzyme.Abbreviations CF₁, BF₁, and MF₁ coupling factors of chloroplasts, bacteria, and mitochondria, respectively - AdN adenine nucleotide     

Loose and tight binding of adenine nucleotides by membrane-associated chloroplast ATPase

Steady-state binding of adenine nucleotides by thylakoid membranes is measured by employing a centrifugation technique. By this method tightly bound nonexchangeable nucleotides can be discriminated from loosely bound, exchangeable nucleotides. Nucleotide binding requires membrane energization and is highly specific for medium ADP. In illuminated chloroplasts almost no exogenous AMP and only some ATP are incorporated, most being recovered as tightly bound nucleotides. In light-triggered chloroplasts, however, which are capable of hydrolyzing ATP, a high level of exchangeable nucleotides is found on the membranes. The sum of tightly bound and loosely bound nucleotides originating from medium ADP is about one per CF₁. The ratio between them decreases with increasing proton-motive force. Exchangeable nucleotides most probably represent the ligands involved in the catalytic process, as suggested from substrate specificity and the effect of a competitive inhibitor of photophosphorylation, naphthoyl ADP. This compound in a low concentration range supresses loose binding but not tight binding of medium ADP. Under phosphorylating conditions (presence of ADP, P_i and light), some of the tightly bound nucleotides exist as ATP even in the presence of a hexokinase system. The results are discussed in the context of the regulation of chloroplast ATPase by tight nucleotide binding.