Reconstitution of CF0F1 into liposomes using a new reconstitution procedure

The H(+)-ATPase (ATP synthase) from chloroplasts was isolated, purified and reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidic-acid liposomes. Liposomes prepared by reverse-phase evaporation were treated with various amounts of Triton X-100 and protein incorporation was studied at each step of the solubilization process. After detergent removal by SM2-Biobeads, the activities of the resulting proteoliposomes were measured indicating that the most efficient reconstitution was obtained by insertion of the protein into preformed, detergent-saturated liposomes. The conditions for the reconstitution were optimized with regard to ATP synthesis driven by an artificially generated delta pH/delta psi. An important benefit of the new reconstituted CF0F1 liposomes is the finding that the rate of ATP synthesis remains constant up to 10 s, indicating a low basal membrane permeability.     

Azide as a probe of co-operative interactions in the mitochondrial F1-ATPase

(1) The hydrolytic activity of the isolated mitochondrial ATPase (F1) is strongly inhibited by azide. However, at very low ATP concentration (1 microM or less), no inhibition by azide is observed. (2) The azide-insensitive ATPase activity represents a high-affinity, low-capacity mode of turnover of F1. This is identified with the low Km, low Vmax component seen in steady-state kinetic studies in the absence of azide. (3) The azide-insensitive ATPase activity shows simple Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with Km = 3.2 microM, and Vmax = 1.1 mumol/min per mg (6 s-1). It is unaffected by anions such as sulphite, or by increasing pH in the range 7 to 8, both of which stimulate the maximal activity of F1. (4) Both the azide-insensitive and azide-sensitive components of F1-ATPase activity are equally inhibited by labelling the enzyme with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenzofurazan, by binding the natural inhibitor protein, or by cold denaturation of the enzyme. (5) It is concluded that azide-insensitive ATP hydrolysis represents catalysis by F1 involving a single catalytic site, and that azide acts by abolishing intersubunit cooperativity between the three catalytic sites of F1. Azide-sensitivity is thus a useful probe for events which affect the active site of F1 directly.     

Coenzyme A dithioesters: synthesis, characterization and reaction with citrate synthase and acetyl-CoA:choline O-acetyltransferase

Acyl dithioesters of CoA have been synthesized by transesterification. The alpha-hydrogens have a spectrally determined pKa of 12.5 +/- 0.14. The hydroxide catalyzed enolization rate is estimated to be 600 M-1.s-1. The absorbance of the dithioester, lambda max = 306 nm, can be used to monitor both the condensation and transesterification reactions that use CoA-Ac as a substrate. For citrate synthase at pH 7.4 Vmax = (4.0 +/- 0.4).10(-4) s-1 and Km = 53 +/- 7.5 microM, which are 2.10(-6) and 3.3-times the Vmax and Km values observed for CoAS-Ac, while for Ac-CoA: choline O-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.6) at pH 7.0 Vmax = (1.1 +/- 0.2).10(-2) mumol.s-1.(mg protein)-1 and Km = 83 +/- 33 microM, which are 0.077 and 10-times the values observed with CoAS-Ac, respectively. The CoA dithioesters are stable at low pH, but hydrolyze with a second-order rate constant of 8.2.10(-2) M-1.s-1 at pH 11.4. The spectral properties of these dithioesters should allow these analogs to be used as probes of the structure of enzyme bound intermediates.     

Mechanism of proline transport in Escherichia coli K12. I. Effect of a membrane potential on the kinetics of 2H+/proline symport in cytoplasmic membrane vesicles

The stoichiometric coupling mechanism of the membrane potential (delta psi) in the reaction of H+/proline symport was investigated kinetically, using cytoplasmic membrane vesicles of the proline carrier-overproducing strain of Escherichia coli MinS/ pLC4 -45. When a delta psi was imposed across the cytoplasmic membrane by respiration, the Michaelis constant of transport (Kt) was lowered to about 1 microM, which was 2 orders of magnitude smaller than that of passive influx and efflux, and the maximum velocity (Vmax) was concomitantly enhanced as an exponential function of delta psi. Thermodynamically, the carrier translocated proline with a stoichiometry of 2 mol of protons versus 1 mol of substrate when driven by a delta psi at pH 8.0. Data on the delta psi dependence of Vmax of proline transport could be explained quantitatively by the Geck-Heinz hypothesis (Geck, P., and Heinz, E. (1976) Biochim, Biophys. Acta 443, 49-63). A symmetrical model of the 2H+/proline symport via formation of a carrier/H+/substrate (CH+H+S) intermediate is proposed. In this model, the effect of delta psi on the Kt was resolved as stimulation of formation of a transport intermediate, whereas the effect of delta psi on the Vmax was explained by enhancement of translocation of loaded carriers between the two sides of the membrane.     

Distinction between the two basic mechanisms of cation transport in the cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange system

In order to distinguish between the Ping-Pong and sequential mechanisms of cation transport in the cardiac Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange system, the initial rates of the Nai-dependent 45Ca uptake (t = 1 s) were measured in reconstituted proteoliposomes, loaded with a Ca chelator. Under "zero-trans" conditions ([Na]o = [Ca]i = 0) at a fixed [Na]i = 10-160 mM with varying [45Ca]o = 2.5-122 microM for each [Na]i, the Km and Vmax values increased from 7.7 to 33.5 microM and from 2.3 to 9.0 nmol.mg-1.s-1, respectively. The Vmax/Km values show a +/- 2-10% deviation from the average value of 0.274 nmol.mg-1.s-1.microM-1 over the whole range of [Na]i. These deviations are within the standard error of Vmax (+/- 3-7%), Km (+/- 11-17%), and Vmax/Km (+/- 11-19%). This suggests that, under conditions in which Vmax and Km are [Na]i dependent and vary 4-5-fold, the Vmax/Km values are constant within the experimental error. In the presence of K(+)-valinomycin the Vmax/Km values are 0.85 +/- 0.17 and 1.08 +/- 0.18 nmol.mg-1.s-1.microM-1 at [Na]i = 20 and 160 mM, respectively, suggesting that under conditions of "short circuit" of the membrane potential the Vmax/Km values still exhibit the [Na]i independence. At a very low fixed [45Ca]o = 1.1 microM with varying [Na]i = 10-160 mM, the initial rates were found to be [Na]i independent. At a high fixed [45Ca]o = 92 microM the initial rates show a sigmoidal dependence on the [Na]i with Vmax = 13.8 nmol.mg-1.s-1, KmNa = 21 mM, and Hill coefficient nH = 1.5. The presented data support a Ping-Pong (consecutive) mechanism of cation transport in the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger.     

Control of cellular redox potential as measured in a steady-state, cell-free system

A cell-free system consisting of rat liver mitochondria, liver cytosol, lactate, and the substrates intrinsic to the malate-aspartate shuttle was reconstituted for studies of steady-state substrate fluxes and, more specifically, to evaluate further the mechanism of control of the intra- and extramitochondrial steady states of the free NAD+/NADH ratios. Soluble (F1) ATPase or 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) were added in varying amounts to alter substrate fluxes and the constant energy state of this 'open' metabolizing system. The steady-state redox segregation (1.36 log NAD+/NADH ratio out vs NAD+/NADH in the mitochondrial matrix) was maximally about 3 kcal, and declined together with the membrane potential (delta psi) and log ATP/ADP, which obtain on imposing an increasing energy load on the system. It is concluded that transmembrane movement of reducing equivalents is coupled to electron transfer through delta psi, mediated by the electrogenic exchange of glutamate and aspartate. When delta psi was high (near State 4), delta G redox was approximately the same as that generated without flux of reducing equivalents [E. J. Davis, J. Bremer, and K. E. Akerman (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 2277-2283], suggesting that delta Gredox is in near thermodynamic equilibrium with delta psi. If the steady-state ATP/ADP ratio was altered with an energy load (F1-ATPase), delta Gredox decreased more steeply than delta psi (tetraphenyl phosphonium-sensitive electrode used to measure delta psi). At comparable ranges of ATP/ADP, both delta Gredox and delta psi decreased more steeply with uncoupler than with an external ADP-regenerating system.     

Substrate regulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase. Transient kinetic studies.

The rate of phosphorylation of the Ca2+-dependent ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles by ITP and ATP was studied using a millisecond mixing and quenching device. The rate of phosphorylation was slower when the vesicles were preincubated in a Ca2+-free medium than when preincubated with Ca2+, regardless of the substrate used and of the pH of the medium. When the vesicles were preincubated with Ca2+ at pH 7.4 an overshoot of phosphorylation was observed in the presence of ITP. The overshoot was abolished when the pH of the medium was decreased to 6.0 or when the vesicles were preincubated in a Ca2+-free medium. Using vesicles preincubated with Ca2+ the apparent Km for ITP found was 2.5 mM at pH 6.0 and 1.0 mM at pH 7.4. The Vmax observed (77 mumol g-1 s-1) did not change with the pH of the medium. Both at pH 6.0 and 7.4 the apparent Km for ATP was 3 microM when preincubated in a Ca2+-free medium. At pH 6.0 the Vmax for ATP varied from 96 to 33 mumol g-1 s-1 depending on whether the vesicles were preincubated in the presence or absence of Ca2+. At pH 7.4 the Vmax for ATP was 90 mumol g-1 s-1 in both conditions. The rate of phosphorylation of the vesicles was dependent on the relative Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations of the reaction medium regardless of the substrate used.     

Depolarization of In Situ Mitochondria Due to Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress in Nerve Terminals

Mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi(m)) was determined in intact isolated nerve terminals using the membrane potential-sensitive probe JC-1. Oxidative stress induced by H2O2 (0.1-1 mM) caused only a minor decrease in delta psi(m). When complex I of the respiratory chain was inhibited by rotenone (2 microM), delta psi(m) was unaltered, but on subsequent addition of H2O2, delta psi(m) started to decrease and collapsed during incubation with 0.5 mM H2O2 for 12 min. The ATP level and [ATP]/[ADP] ratio were greatly reduced in the simultaneous presence of rotenone and H2O2. H2O2 also induced a marked reduction in delta psi(m) when added after oligomycin (10 microM), an inhibitor of F0F1-ATPase. H2O2 (0.1 or 0.5 mM) inhibited alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and decreased the steady-state NAD(P)H level in nerve terminals. It is concluded that there are at least two factors that determine delta psi(m) in the presence of H2O2: (a) The NADH level reduced owing to inhibition of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase is insufficient to ensure an optimal rate of respiration, which is reflected in a fall of delta psi(m) when the F0F1-ATPase is not functional. (b) The greatly reduced ATP level in the presence of rotenone and H2O2 prevents maintenance of delta psi(m) by F0F1-ATPase. The results indicate that to maintain delta psi(m) in the nerve terminal during H2O2-induced oxidative stress, both complex I and F0F1-ATPase must be functional. Collapse of delta psi(m) could be a critical event in neuronal injury in ischemia or Parkinson's disease when H2O2 is generated in excess and complex I of the respiratory chain is simultaneously impaired.     

The active transport of 2-keto-D-gluconate in vesicles prepared from Pseudomonas purida.

The transport of 2-keto-D-gluconate (alpha-D-arabino-2-hexulopyranosonic acid; 2KGA) in vesicles prepared from glucose-grown Pseudomonas putida occurs by a saturable process with a Km of 110.0 +/- 2.9 microM and a Vmax. of 0.55 +/- 0.04 nmol X min-1 X (mg of protein)-1. The provision of phenazine methosulphate/ascorbate or L-malate leads to an accumulation of intravescular 2KGA, a decrease in the Km value to 50 +/- 2.1 microM and 35 +/- 2.9 microM respectively and no change in the Vmax. In the presence of electron donors the transport of 2KGA is inhibited by the respiratory poisons antimycin A, rotenone and the uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol. 2KGA transport is also competitively inhibited by 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-2-keto- or 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-2-keto-D-gluconate with Ki values of 50 microM and 160 microM respectively. The carrier system for 2KGA is repressed in vesicles from cells grown on succinate. Such vesicles transport 2KGA by non-specific physical diffusion with a Km value of infinity in the absence or presence of electron donors. Vesicles from glucose or succinate grown cells, in the presence of phenazine methosulphate/ascorbate at pH 6.6, generate a proton-motive force (delta p) of approx. 140 mV. The delta p, composed of proton gradient (delta pH) and a membrane potential (delta psi), is collapsed in the presence of dinitrophenol. Based on the results obtained with valinomycin, nigericin and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, the active transport of 2KGA at pH 6.6 is coupled predominately to the delta pH component of delta p.     

Cross-reconstitution of the F0F1-ATP synthases of chloroplasts and Escherichia coli with special emphasis on subunit delta

F0F1-ATP synthases catalyse ATP formation from ADP and Pi by using the free energy supplied by the transmembrane electrochemical potential of the proton. The delta subunit of F1 plays an important role at the interface between the channel portion F0 and the catalytic portion F1. In chloroplasts it can plug the protonic conductance of CF0 and in Escherichia coli it is required for binding of EF1 to EF0. We wanted to know whether or not delta of one species was effective between F0 and F1 of the other species and vice versa. To this end the respective coupling membrane (thylakoids, everted vesicles from E. coli) was (partially) depleted of F1 and purified F1, F1(-delta), and delta were added in various combinations to the F1-depleted membranes. The efficiency or reconstitution was measured in thylakoids via the rate of phenazinemethosulfate-mediated cyclic photophosphorylation and in E. coli everted vesicles via the degree of 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine fluorescence quenching. Addition of CF1 to partially CF1-depleted thylakoid vesicles restored photophosphorylation to the highest extent. CF1(-delta)+chloroplast delta, EF1, EF1(-delta)+E. coli delta were also effective but to lesser extent. CF1(-delta)+E. coli delta and EF1(-delta)+chloroplast delta restored photophosphorylation to a small but still significant extent. With F1-depleted everted vesicles prepared by repeated EDTA treatment of E. coli membranes, addition of CF1, CF1 (-delta)+chloroplast delta and CF1(-delta)+E. coli delta gave approximately half the extent of 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine fluorescence quenching as compared to EF1 or EF1(-delta)+E. coli delta by energization of the vesicles with NADH, while Ef1(-delta)+chloroplast delta was ineffective. All 'mixed' combinations were probably reconstitutively active only by plugging the protonic leak through the exposed F0 (structural reconstitution) rather than by catalytic activity. Nevertheless, the cross-reconstitution is stunning in view of the weak sequence similarity between chloroplast delta and E. coli delta. It favors a role of delta as a conformational transducer rather than as a proton conductor between F0 and F1.     

Reactions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium adenosinetriphosphatase with adenosine 5'-triphosphate and Ca2+ that are not satisfactorily described by an E1-E2 model

Phosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, E, is first order with kb = 70 +/- 7 s-1 after free enzyme was mixed with saturating ATP and 50 microM Ca2+; this is one-third the rate constant of 220 s-1 for phosphorylation of enzyme preincubated with calcium, cE.Ca2, after being mixed with ATP under the same conditions (pH 7.0, Ca2+-loaded vesicles, 100 mM KCl, 5 mM Mg2+, 25 degrees C). Phosphorylation of E with ATP and Ca2+ in the presence of 0.25 mM ADP gives approximately 50% E approximately P.Ca2 with kobsd = 77 s-1, not the sum of the forward and reverse rate constants, kobsd = kf + kr = 140 s-1, that is expected for approach to equilibrium if phosphorylation were rate limiting. These results show that (1) kb represents a slow conformational change, rather than phosphoryl transfer, and (2) different pathways are followed for the phosphorylation of E and of cE.Ca2. The absence of a lag for phosphorylation of E with saturating ATP and Ca2+ indicates that all other steps, including the binding of Ca2+ ions and phosphoryl transfer, have rate constants of greater than 500 s-1. Chase experiments with unlabeled ATP or with ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) show that the rate constants for dissociation of [gamma-32P]ATP and Ca2+ are comparable to kb. Dissociation of ATP occurs at 47 s-1 from E.ATP.Ca2+ and at 24 s-1 from E.ATP. Approximately 20% phosphorylation occurs following an EGTA chase 4.5 ms after the addition of 300 microM ATP and 50 microM Ca2+ to enzyme. This shows that Ca2+ binds rapidly to the free enzyme, from outside the vesicle, before the conformational change (kb). The fraction of Ca2+-free E.[gamma-32P]ATP that is trapped to give labeled phosphoenzyme after the addition of Ca2+ and a chase of unlabeled ATP is half-maximal at 6.8 microM Ca2+, with a Hill slope of n = 1.8. The calculated dissociation constant for Ca2+ from E.ATP.Ca2 is approximately 2.2 X 10(-10) M2 (K0.5 = 15 microM). The rate constant for the slow phase of the biphasic reaction of E approximately P.Ca2 with 1.1 mM ADP increases 2.5-fold when [Ca2+] is decreased from 50 microM to 10 nM, with half-maximal increase at 1.7 microM Ca2+. This shows that Ca2+ is dissociating from a different species, aE.ATP.Ca2, that is active for catalysis of phosphoryl transfer, has a high affinity for Ca2+, and dissociates Ca2+ with k less than or equal to 45 s-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Evidence for catalytic cooperativity during ATP hydrolysis by beef heart F1-ATPase. Kinetics and binding studies with the photoaffinity label BzATP

The photoaffinity analog of ATP, 3'-O-(4-benzoyl) benzoyl ATP (BzATP), was used to covalently modify the catalytic sites on the beef heart mitochondrial F1-ATPase. In the absence of actinic illumination, BzATP was a slow substrate for the enzyme (Vmax = 0.19 mumol min-1 mg-1; kcat/Km = 2.2 X 10(6) M-1s-1) and behaved as a classical competitive inhibitor versus ATP (Ki = 0.85 microM). Under photolytic conditions, BzATP inactivated F1 with pseudo first-order kinetics, and the photoinactivation reaction showed rate saturation suggesting specific, reversible binding of BzATP to F1 prior to covalent bond formation. ATP protected against F1 photoinactivation (Kprotect = 0.3 microM) and partially covalently modified F1 yielded the same Km for ATP as unmodified enzyme. These results strongly suggested that BzATP was bound to catalytic sites on the enzyme. In the absence of photolysis, BzATP saturated two binding sites on the F1 (KD = 1.6 microM), and under photolytic conditions, 1 mol of BzATP was shown to be covalently liganded to the beta subunit of the enzyme coincident with 100% loss in ATPase activity. Previous studies with the mitochondrial F1-ATPase have suggested a mechanism involving catalytic cooperativity during ATP hydrolysis. Our demonstration of a molar stoichiometry of 1 for photoinactivation is in accord with this mechanism. It is suggested that either F1 is unable to hydrolyze covalently bound BzATP, or that subsequent to hydrolysis, the BzADP product can not be released from the catalytic site. It is therefore inferred that F1 hydrolytic activity requires cooperativity between multiple, viable catalytic sites and that covalent modification of a single catalytic site is sufficient for complete enzyme inactivation.     

Comparison of DeltapH- and Delta***φ***-driven ATP synthesis catalyzed by the H(+)-ATPases from Escherichia coli or chloroplasts reconstituted into liposomes.

The H(+)-ATPases from Escherichia coli, EF(0)F(1), and from chloroplasts, CF(0)F(1), were reconstituted in liposomes from phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidic acid. The proteoliposomes were energized by an acid-base transition and a K(+)/valinomycin diffusion potential and the initial rate of ATP synthesis was measured as a function of the transmembrane pH difference, DeltapH, and the electric potential difference, Deltaφ. With EF(0)F(1), a rate of 80 s(-1) is observed at DeltapH=4.1 and Deltaφ approximately 140 mV. The rate decreases sigmoidally with Deltaφ and at Deltaφ approximately 0 mV, the rate is about 1 s(-1) although DeltapH is still 4.1. Under the same conditions with CF(0)F(1), a rate of 280 s(-1) is observed which decreases to 190 s(-1) when Deltaφ is abolished, i.e. ATP synthesis catalyzed by EF(0)F(1) and CF(0)F(1) depends in a different way on DeltapH and Deltaφ. EF(0)F(1)-catalyzed ATP synthesis was measured as a function of DeltapH at a constant Deltaφ. The rate depends sigmoidally on DeltapH reaching a maximal rate which cannot be further increased by increasing DeltapH. However, this maximal rate depends on Deltaφ, i.e. DeltapH and Deltaφ are not kinetically equivalent in driving ATP synthesis. We assume that EF(0)F(1) must be converted into a metastable, active state before it catalyzes proton transport-coupled ATP synthesis. For EF(0)F(1), this activation step depends only on Deltaφ, whereas for CF(0)F(1), the activation depends on DeltapH and Deltaφ.     

Electrogenic glutamine uptake by Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and generation of a transmembrane potential.

Peptostreptococcus anaerobius converted glutamine stoichiometrically to ammonia and pyroglutamic acid, and the Eadie-Hofstee plot of glutamine transport was biphasic. High-affinity, sodium-dependent glutamine transport (affinity constant [Kt] of 1.5 microM) could be driven by the chemical gradient of sodium, and more than 20 mM sodium was required for half-maximal velocity. High-affinity glutamine transport was not stimulated or inhibited by a membrane potential (delta psi). Low-affinity glutamine transport had a rate which was directly proportional to the external glutamine concentration, required less than 100 microM sodium, and was inhibited strongly by a delta psi. Cells which were treated with N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to inhibit the F1F0 ATPase still generated a delta psi but did so only if the external glutamine concentration was greater than 15 mM. Low-affinity glutamine uptake could not be saturated by as much as 200 mM glutamine, but glutamine-1 accounts for only a small fraction of the total glutamine at physiological pH values (pH 6 to 7). On the basis of these results, it appeared that the low-affinity glutamine transport was an electrogenic mechanism which was converting a chemical gradient of glutamine-1 into a delta psi. Other mechanisms of delta psi generation (electrogenic glutamine-pyroglutamate or -ammonium exchange) could not be demonstrated.     

Subunit delta of H(+)-ATPases: at the interface between proton flow and ATP synthesis

The ATP synthases in photophosphorylation and respiration are of the F-type with a membrane-bound proton channel, F0, and an extrinsic catalytic portion, F1. The properties of one particular subunit, delta (in chloroplasts and Escherichia coli) and OSCP (in mitochondria), are reviewed and the role of this subunit at the interface between F0 and F1 is discussed. Delta and OSCP from the three sources have in common the molecular mass (approximately 20 kDa), an elongated shape (axial ratio in solution about 3:1), one high-affinity binding site to F1 (Kd approximately 100 nM) plus probably one or two further low-affinity sites. When isolated delta is added to CF1-depleted thylakoid membranes, it can block proton flow through exposed CF0 channels, as do CF1 or CF1(-delta)+ delta. This identifies delta as part of the proton conductor or, alternatively, conformational energy transducer between F0 (proton flow) and F1 (ATP). Hybrid constructs as CF1(-delta)+ E. coli delta and EF1(-delta)+ chloroplast delta diminish proton flow through CF0.CF1(-delta) + E. coli delta does the same on EF0. Impairment of proton leaks either through CF0 or through EF0 causes "structural reconstitution' of ATP synthesis by remaining intact F0F1. Functional reconstitution (ATP synthesis by fully reconstructed F0F1), however, is absolutely dependent on the presence of subunit delta and is therefore observed only with CF1 or CF1(-delta) + chloroplast delta on CF0 and EF1 or EF1(-delta) + E. coli delta on EF0. The effect of hybrid constructs on F0 channels is surprising in view of the limited sequence homology between chloroplast and E. coli delta (36% conserved residues including conservative replacements). An analysis of the distribution of the conserved residues at present does not allow us to discriminate between the postulated conformational or proton-conductive roles of subunit delta.     

Transport of glucose and fructose in rat hepatocytes at 37 degrees C

The kinetic parameters for transport of the nonmetabolizable glucose analogue 3-O-methyl-D-glucose and the relationship between transport and metabolism of D-glucose and D-fructose were determined in isolated rat hepatocytes at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4. 3-O-Methylglucose at a very low concentration (0.1 mM) equilibrated with the intracellular water with a rate constant of 0.41 s-1. Km for equilibrium exchange entry was 5.5 mM and Vmax was 2.2 mM X s-1 and similar results were obtained when using the zero-trans entry protocol. The rate constant for entry of tracer D-glucose was 0.15 s-1 and Km for glucose was about 20 mM. The phosphorylation rate for D-glucose was much slower than the transport rate. The rate constant for D-fructose entry was about 0.04 s-1, the apparent Km was about 100 mM and Vmax about 5 mM X s-1. The concentration dependence of 3-O-methylglucose inhibition of labelled fructose transport revealed biphasic kinetics indicating that fructose was transferred by both the glucose transporter and a fructose transporter. At concentrations lower than 1 mM, fructose metabolism appeared to be limited by the transport step.     

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.     

The H+-ATPase from chloroplasts: effect of different reconstitution procedures on ATP synthesis activity and on phosphate dependence of ATP synthesis

The H+-ATP synthase from chloroplasts, CF0F1, was isolated, reconstituted into liposomes and ATP synthesis activity was measured after energization of the proteoliposomes with an acid-base transition. The ATP yield was measured as a function of the reaction time after energization, the data were fitted by an exponential function and the initial rate was calculated from the fit parameters. CF0F1 was reconstituted by detergent dialysis in asolectin liposomes and phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidic acid (PtdCho/PtdAc from egg yolk) liposomes. In asolectin liposomes, high initial rates of ATP synthesis (up to 400 s(-1)) were observed with a rapid decline of the rate; in PtdCho/PtdAc liposomes the initial rate is smaller (up to 200 s(-1)), but the decline of the activity is slower. CF0F1 was reconstituted into PtdCho/PtdAc liposomes either by detergent dialysis or into reverse phase liposomes. The dependence of the rate of ATP synthesis on the phosphate concentration was measured with both types of proteoliposomes. The data can be described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K(M) value of 350 microM for reverse phase liposomes and a K(M) value of 970 microM for dialysis liposomes. Both K(M) values depend neither on the magnitude of DeltapH nor on the electric potential difference, whereas V(max) decreases strongly with decreasing energization. At low phosphate concentration, there are small deviations from Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The measured rates are higher than those calculated from the fitted Michaelis-Menten parameters. This effect is interpreted as evidence that more than one phosphate binding site is involved in ATP synthesis.     

D-Gluconate transport in Arthrobacter pyridinolis. Metabolic trapping of a protonated solute.

D-Gluconate uptake was studied in whole cells of Arthrobacter pyridinolis; the uptake activity was inducible, mutable and showed saturation kinetics (Km = 5 micrometer). Uptake of D-gluconate was not mediated by a phosphoenol-pyruvate : hexose phosphotransferase system, nor was it directly energized by ATP. A transmembrane pH gradient, delta pH, of --63 mV was generated by A. pyridinolis cells at pH 6.5, while at pH 7.5, delta pH = 0. Addition of 8 micrometer D-gluconate significantly reduced the delta pH. The transmembrane electrical potential, delta psi, which was --87 mV over a range of pH from 5.5 to 7.5, was unaffected by the presence of substrate. D-Gluconate accumulated at the same rate and as the protonated solute, at both pH 6.5 and 7.5. Experiments in which a diffusion potential was generated in cyanide-treated cells, indicated that the delta psi did not energize transport. Rather, the rate of D-gluconate uptake metabolism: (a) treatment of cells with valinomycin or nigericin, under conditions in which there was a loss of intracellular potassium, inhibited both D-gluconate uptake and the metabolism of pre-accumulated D-gluconate; (b) the effects of cyanide and azide on D-gluconate uptake were much more severe at pH 6.5 than pH 7.5, a pattern which paralleled the effects of these inhibitors on D-gluconate metabolism; (c) extraction and chromatography of intracellular label from D-gluconate uptake revealed that accumulation of unaltered D-gluconate was negligible; (d) a series of mutant strains with lower D-gluconate kinase activities also exhibited low rates of D-gluconate uptake; (e) spontaneous revertants of these mutant strains consistently regained both D-gluconate kinase activity and wild type levels of uptake.     

Sodium-dependent transport of branched-chain amino acids by a monensin-sensitive ruminal peptostreptococcus

A recently isolated ruminal peptostreptococcus which produced large amounts of branched-chain volatile fatty acids grew rapidly with leucine as an energy source in the presence but not the absence of Na. Leucine transport could be driven by an artificial membrane potential (delta psi) only when Na was available, and a chemical gradient of Na+ (delta uNa+) also drove uptake. Because Na+ was taken up with leucine and a Z delta pH could not serve as a driving force (with or without Na), it appeared that leucine was transported in symport with Na+. The leucine carrier could use Li as well as Na and had a single binding site for Na+. The Km for Na was 5.2 mM, and the Km and Vmax for leucine were 77 microM and 328 nmol/mg of protein per min, respectively. Since valine and isoleucine competitively inhibited (Kis of 90 and 49 microM, respectively) leucine transport, it appeared that the peptostreptococcus used a common carrier for branched-chain amino acids. Valine or isoleucine was taken up rapidly, but little ammonia was produced if they were provided individually. The lack of ammonia could be explained by an accumulation of reducing equivalents. The ionophore, monensin, inhibited growth, but leucine was taken up and deaminated at a slow rate. Monensin caused a loss of K, an increase in Na, a slight increase in delta psi, and a decrease in intracellular pH. The inhibition of growth was consistent with a large decrease in ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)