Homeostasis of the protonmotive force in phosphorylating mitochondria

The relationship between the respiration rate and the magnitude of the electrochemical proton potential (delta mu H+) in rat liver mitochondria was investigated. (1) Under the active-state conditions, the action of inhibitors of either phosphorylation (oligomycin) or respiration (rotenone, malonate) on the respiration and delta mu H+ was measured. Both inhibitors diminished the respiration, whereas rotenone resulted in a decrease of delta mu H+, and oligomycin produced an increase of this potential. The effect of the inhibitors was much more pronounced on the respiration rate than on delta mu H+; for example, the excess of oligomycin produced a 90% inhibition of the respiration while delta mu H+ was changed only by 9%. (2) Under the resting-state conditions, small concentrations of the uncoupler stimulated the respiration while changing delta mu H+ to a relatively small extent. The uncoupler concentrations which doubled and tripled the respiration rate produced only 5 and 9% decrease of delta mu H+, respectively. (3) The present results enabled us to propose a model describing the interrelationship between respiration and delta mu H+.     

On the relationship between rate of ATP synthesis and H+ electrochemical gradient in rat-liver mitochondria

The relationship between rate of ATP synthesis, JATP, and value of the proton electrochemical gradient, delta mu H, has been analyzed in intact mitochondria. Onset of phosphorylation causes a depression of delta mu H of 1.5 kJ/mol. There is a close parallelism between inhibition of JATP and restoration of delta mu H to its state-4 value during titrations with oligomycin or atractyloside. Titrations with ionophores display the following features: (a) delta mu H can be depressed by 3-4 kJ/mol by valinomycin + K+ without affecting the rate of ATP synthesis; (b) uncouplers abolish JATP completely while depressing delta mu H by 3 kJ/mol; (c) complete abolition of ATP synthesis by inhibitors of electron transport is accompanied by a depression of delta mu H of only 1 kJ/mol. The results indicate that: (a) there is a close functional relationship between redox and ATPase H+ pumps, whereby inhibition of electron transfer is accompanied by simultaneous inhibition of the ATPase H+ pumps; and (b) uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation is not due to depression of delta mu H per se. The consistence of the present data with either a chemiosmotic model where delta mu H is the sole and obligatory intermediate for energy coupling, or models where there is a direct transfer of energy between the two pumps is discussed.     

Uncoupler-inhibitor titrations of ATP-driven reverse electron transfer in bovine submitochondrial particles provide evidence for direct interaction between ATPase and NADH:Q oxidoreductase

From the chemiosmotic hypothesis it follows that no change is expected in potency of an uncoupler to inhibit an energy-driven reaction in an energy-transducing membrane if the energy-requiring part of the reaction, the so-called secondary proton pump, is partially inhibited by a specific, tightly bound inhibitor. An increase in potency upon inhibition of the primary pump may be expected, due to a lower rate of the total proton flow that can be used by the secondary pump and dissipated by the uncoupler. Contrary to this prediction several uncouplers (S13, SF6847, 2,4-dinitrophenol, valinomycin + nigericin) show an increase in uncoupling efficiency in ATP-driven reverse electron transfer (reversal) upon inhibition of the secondary pump in this reaction, the NADH:Q oxidoreductase, by rotenone. The increase in uncoupling efficiency is proportional to the decrease in the rate of reversal, that is to the decrease in concentration of active secondary pump. Similarly, upon inhibition of the primary pump, the ATPase, with oligomycin, an increase in uncoupling efficiency was found, also proportional to the decrease in the rate of reversal. When the pore-forming uncoupler gramicidin was used, no change in uncoupling potency was found upon inhibition of NADH:Q oxidoreductase. Inhibition of the ATPase, however, resulted in a proportionally lower uncoupling titre for gramicidin, just as was found for S13 in the presence of oligomycin. A difference was also found in the relative concentrations of S13 and gramicidin required to stimulate ATP hydrolysis or to inhibit reversal. The amount of S13 needed to stimulate ATP hydrolysis was clearly higher than the amount needed to inhibit reversal. On the contrary, the titre of gramicidin for both actions was about the same. To explain these results we propose that gramicidin uncouples via dissipation of the bulk delta mu H+, whereas the carrier-type uncouplers preferentially interfere with the direct energy transduction between the ATPase and redox enzymes. This is in accordance with the recently developed collision hypothesis.     

Molecular slipping in redox and ATPase H+ pumps

The titration of the mitochondrial ATPase H+ pump with oligomycin has been compared with the titration of the redox H+ pump with antimycin. In both cases there is extensive inhibition of the pumps without significant depression of delta muH. The two pumps exhibit 'nonohmic' behavior in different ranges of delta muH. This discrepancy favors the hypothesis of nontightly coupled or 'slipping' H+ pumps with respect to that of a steep dependence of the membrane 'leak' conductance for H+ on delta muH.     

Control processes in oxidative phosphorylation: kinetic constraints and stoichiometry

Control processes in oxidative phosphorylation have been studied in three experimental models. (1) In isolated yeast mitochondria, external ATP is a regulatory effector of cytochrome-c oxidase activity. In phosphorylating or uncoupling states, the relationships between respiratory rate and delta mu H+, and the respiratory rate and cytochrome-c oxidase reduction level are dependent on this kinetic regulation. (2) In rat liver mitochondria, the response of the respiratory rate to uncoupler addition is age-dependent: liver mitochondria isolated from young rats maintain a greater delta mu H+ than liver mitochondria isolated from adults, with the same respiratory rate obtained with the same concentration of uncoupler. This behaviour is linked to redox proton pump properties, i.e., to the degree of intrinsic uncoupling induced by uncoupler addition. (3) The effect of almitrine, a new kind of ATPase/ATPsynthase inhibitor, was studied in mammalian mitochondria. (i) Almitrine inhibits oligomycin-sensitive ATPase - it decreases the ATPase/O value without any change in delta mu H+; (ii) almitrine increased the mechanistic H+/ATP stoichiometry of ATPase/ATPsynthase; (iii) almitrine-induced changes in H+/ATPase stoichiometry depend on the flux magnitude through ATPase. These results are discussed in terms of the following interdependent parameters; flux value, force, pump efficiency and control coefficient.     

On the mechanism of action of oligomycin and acidic uncouplers on proton translocation and energy transfer in “sonic” submitochondrial particles

A study is presented of the effect of acidic uncouplers and oligomycin on energy-linked and passive proton translocation, oxidative phosphorylation, and energy-linked nicotinamide-adenine-nucleotide transhydrogenase in EDTA submitochondrial particles from beef-heart. A flow potentiometric technique has been applied to resolve the kinetics of the initial rapid phase of the redox proton pump. Rapid kinetics analysis shows that carbonyl-cyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone (FCCP) does not exert any direct effect on redox-linked active proton transport. The uncoupling action of FCCP on oxidative phosphorylation and energy-linked transhydrogenase is shown to be quantitatively accounted for by its promoting effect of passive proton-diffusion across the mitochondrial membrane. Oligomycin depresses passive proton diffusion in EDTA sonic particles and this effect accounts for the coupling action exerted by the antibiotic on oxidative phosphorylation and energy-linked transhydrogenase. In fact, rapid kinetic analysis demonstrates that oligomycin does not directly affect the redox-linked proton pump. The present results show that there does not exist any labile intermediate in the redox-linked proton pump which is sensitive to acidic uncouplers.     

ATP-driven transhydrogenase provides an example of delocalized chemiosmotic coupling in reconstituted vesicles and in submitochondrial particles

The mechanism of coupling between mitochondrial ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) and nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (EC 1.6.1.1) was studied in reconstituted liposomes containing both purified enzymes and compared with their behavior in submitochondrial particles. In order to investigate the mode of coupling between the transhydrogenase and the ATPase by the double-inhibitor and inhibitor-uncoupler methods, suitable inhibitors of transhydrogenase and ATPase were selected. Phenylarsine oxide and A3'-O-(3-(N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)amino)propionyl)-NAD+ were used as transhydrogenase inhibitors, whereas of the various ATPase inhibitors tested aurovertin was found to be the most convenient. The inhibition of the ATP-driven transhydrogenase activity was proportional to the inhibition of both the ATPase and the transhydrogenase. Inhibitor-uncoupler titrations showed an increased sensitivity of the coupled reaction towards carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP)--an uncoupler that preferentially uncouples localized interactions, according to Herweijer et al. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 849 (1986) 276-287)--when the primary pump was partially inhibited. However, when the secondary pump was partially inhibited the sensitivity towards FCCP remained unchanged. Similar results were obtained with submitochondrial particles. These results are in contrast to those obtained previously with the ATP-driven reverse electron flow. In addition, the amount of uncoupler required for uncoupling of the ATP-driven transhydrogenase was found to be similar to that required for the stimulation of the ATPase activity, both in reconstituted vesicles and in submitochondrial particles. Uncoupling of reversed electron flow to NAD+ required much less uncoupler. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that, in agreement with the chemiosmotic model, the interaction between ATPase and transhydrogenase in reconstituted vesicles as well as in submitochondrial particles occurs through the delta mu H+. In contrast, the energy transfer between ATPase and NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase appears to occur via a more direct interaction, according to the above-mentioned results by Herweijer et al.     

The phosphate potential maintained by mitochondria in State 4 is proportional to the proton-motive force

Evidence is presented for a proportional relationship between the extramitochondrial phosphate potential (delta Gexp) and the proton-motive force (delta mu H+) across the mitochondrial membrane in rat-liver mitochondria oxidising succinate in State 4, when delta mu H+ is varied by addition of uncouplers or malonate. This relationship was found when precautions were taken to minimise interference with the determination of delta Gexp and delta mu H+ by intramitochondrial nucleotides, adenylate kinase activity, the quenching method, and delta mu H+-dependent changes in matrix volume. A non-proportional delta Gexp/delta mu H+ relationship was obtained when these precautions were omitted. Our results do not support mosaic protonic coupling, but are not necessarily in conflict with other localised coupling schemes.     

Unique relationships between the rates of oxidation and phosphorylation and the protonmotive force in rat-liver mitochondria

The rate of ATP synthesis (JP) in isolated rat-liver mitochondria was strongly dependent on the magnitude of the protonmotive force (delta mu H+) across the mitochondrial inner membrane. Addition of different concentrations of various uncouplers or malonate to mitochondrial incubations in State 3 led to a depression of delta mu H+ and a concomitant decrease in JP. A unique relationship between JP and delta mu H+ was obtained, which was independent of the way in which delta mu H+ was varied. This unique relationship was observed when K+ (in the presence of valinomycin) was used as a probe for delta psi. Different relationships between JP and delta mu H+ were observed when K+ was used as a probe for delta psi and when K+ was measured after separation of the mitochondria by centrifugation without silicone oil. This led to a serious underestimation of delta psi, specifically when uncouplers were present, and non-unique flow-force relationships were thus obtained. Anomalous relationships between JP and delta mu H+ were also found when TPMP+ was used as a probe for delta psi. However, in uncoupler incubations the presence of TBP- strongly affected the TPMP+ accumulation ratio without any effect on the K+ accumulation or on JP and in the presence of TBP- unique relationships between JP and delta mu H+ were again obtained. This indicates that the accumulation of TPMP+ inside the mitochondria is not a straightforward function of delta psi but also depends on conditions like the presence of TBP- or uncouplers. We conclude that there is a unique relationship between the rate of phosphorylation and the protonmotive force in mitochondria and that under some conditions the behaviour of TPMP+ is anomalous.     

Activation of the H(+)-ATP synthase in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus.

The regulation of the membrane-bound H(+)-ATPase from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus was investigated. In the presence of uncouplers the rate of ATP hydrolysis was about 40 mM ATP/M bacteriochlorophyll (Bchl)/s. Without uncouplers this rate increased and if, additionally, the chromatophores were illuminated, it was almost doubled. If uncouplers were added shortly after illumination, the rate increased to 300-350 mM ATP/M Bchl/s. Obviously, energization of the membrane leads to the formation of a metastable, active state of the H(+)-ATPase. The maximal rate of ATP hydrolysis can be measured only when first all H(+)-ATPases are activated by delta mu H+ and when the delta mu H+ is abolished in order to release its back pressure on the hydrolysis rate. The half-life time of the metastable state in the absence of delta mu H+ is about 30 s. It is increased by 3 mM Pi to about 80 s and it is decreased by 1 mM ADP to about 15 s. Quantitatively, the fraction of active H(+)-ATPases shows a sigmoidal dependence on pHin (at constant pHout) and the magnitude of delta psi determines the maximal fraction of enzymes which can be activated: delta pH and delta psi are not equivalent for the activation process.     

Electrochemical potential difference for H+-ions as a regulator of redox profile of membrane during ATP-dependent ion transport in E. coli

The importance of delta mu H+ for transport of K+ via K(+)-ionophore and H(+)-K(+)-pump was studied. It was shown that the operation of the pump was decelerated by oxidant ferrycyanide, whereas sulfhydryl reagent dithiothreitol (DTT) drastically accelerated ATP driven ion exchange. Introduction of protonophore CCCP into the medium completely blocked the pump operation. However, the addition of DTT after CCCP restored the high level activity of the pump. At the same time DTT was unable to restore K+ accumulation after CCCP in aerobically grown bacteria for which the K+ uptake was performed across the electrical field gradient. Thus it was established that delta mu H+ was necessary for ATP driven ionic systems as a regulator of the membrane redox state.     

Characterization of a H+-ATPase in rat brain synaptic vesicles. Coupling to L-glutamate transport

Synaptic vesicles contain a H+-ATPase that generates a proton electrochemical gradient (delta mu H+) required for the uptake of neurotransmitters into the organelles. In this study, the synaptic vesicle H+-ATPase was examined for structural and functional similarities with other identified ATPases that generate a delta mu H+ across membranes. The synaptic vesicle H+-ATPase displayed immunological similarity with the 115-, 72-, and 39-kDa subunits of a vacuolar-type H+-ATPase purified from chromaffin granules. Functionally, the ATP-dependent H+ pumping across synaptic vesicles and ATP hydrolysis were sensitive to the sulfhydryl-modifying reagents, N-ethylmaleimide and 4-chloro-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, at concentrations known to affect vacuolar-type H+-ATPases. In addition, as with vacuolar-type H+-ATPases, the presence of NO3-, SO4(2-), or F- inhibited the generation of a delta mu H+, but addition of vanadate or oligomycin had no effect. The delta mu H+ is a function of the pH gradient (delta pH) and membrane potential (delta psi sv) across the synaptic vesicle. Acidification (delta pH) of the synaptic vesicle interior was enhanced in the presence of permeant anions, such as Cl-, or the K+ ionophore, valinomycin. In the absence of permeant anions, the H+-ATPase generated a delta psi sv that effected the transport of L-glutamate into the synaptic vesicles. Dissipation of delta psi sv by incubation with increased external Cl- or nigericin resulted in the abolition of glutamate uptake, despite the continued maintenance of a delta mu H+ across the synaptic vesicle as a substantial delta pH. The results suggest that the synaptic vesicle H+-ATPase is of a vacuolar type and energizes the uptake of anionic glutamate by virtue of the delta psi sv component of the delta mu H+ it generates.     

Delta mu H+ and ATP function at different steps of the catalytic cycle of preprotein translocase.

Preprotein translocation in E. coli requires ATP, the membrane electrochemical potential delta mu H+, and translocase, an enzyme with an ATPase domain (SecA) and the membrane-embedded SecY/E. Studies of translocase and proOmpA binds to the SecA domain. Second, SecA binds ATP. Third, ATP-binding energy permits translocation of approximately 20 residues of proOmpA. Fourth, ATP hydrolysis releases proOmpA. ProOmpA may then rebind to SecA and reenter this cycle, allowing progress through a series of transmembrane intermediates. In the absence of delta mu H+ or association with SecA, proOmpA passes backward through the membrane, but moves forward when either ATP and SecA or a membrane electrochemical potential is supplied. However, in the presence of delta mu H+ (fifth step), proOmpA rapidly completes translocation. delta mu H(+)-driven translocation is blocked by SecA plus nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs, indicating that delta mu H+ drives translocation when ATP and proOmpA are not bound to SecA.     

THe proton-per-electron stoicheiometry of ''site 1'' of oxidative phosphorylation at high protonmotive force is close to 1.5.

The maximum redox potential difference between the NAD+/NADH couple and the succinate/fumarate couple generated during ATP-energized reduction of NAD+ by succinate in submitochondrial particles was measured, together with the electrochemical potential difference for protons (delta mu approximately H+). The presence of cyanide, the time-independence of the redox potential difference and the irrelevance of the initial redox state of the NAD+/NADH couple ensured that the experimental situation corresponded to a 'static-head condition' with delta mu approximately H+ as the input force and the redox potential difference as the output force, the flow of electrons having reached dynamic equilibrium. Consequently, the observed value of 1.6 for the ratio delta Ge/delta mu approximately H+ is interpreted as indicating that the leads to H+/e- stoicheiometry at 'site 1' is 1.5 and that therefore the mechanism of the proton pump at 'site 1' is not of the group-translocation type (no direct leads to e - leads to H+ coupling).     

Synthesis of adenosine triphosphate by an artificially imposed electrochemical proton gradient in bovine heart submitochondrial particles.

Submitochondrial particles subjected to an artificially imposed electrochemical proton gradient consisting of a pH gradient (acid to base transition) and membrane potential (low to high K-+ transition in the presence of valinomycin) catalyzed the net synthesis of 2.5 nmol of [-32P]ATP per mg of protein from ADP and 32-Pi. Optimal reaction conditions included incubation of submitochondrial particles in malonate at pH 5.0 with valinomycin in the absence of added K-+, followed by a rapid transition to pH 7.5 and 100 mM K-+. ATP synthesis continued for about 6 s and was sensitive to uncouplers or oligomycin but insensitive to inhibitors of electron transport. Lower amounts of ATP were formed by either the pH gradient (25%) of K-+ gradient (15%) alone. These results demonstrate that an electrochemical gradient of protons can drive the synthesis of ATP by reversal of the proton-translocating ATPase independent of electron transport.     

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

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

The reduction of diamide by rat liver mitochondria and the role of glutathione.

Diamide is reduced by mitochondria utilizing endogenous substrates with Vmax. 20nmol/min per mg of protein and Km 75micrometer. The reaction is inhibited by: (a) thiol-blocking reagents (N-ethylmaleimide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, mersalyl and 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol);(b) respiratory inhibitors (arsenicals, malonate and antimycin, but not cyanide or oligomycin; inhibition by antimycin is reversed by ATP); (c) uncouplers (carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, 2,4-dinitrophenol and valinomycin with K+; inhibition by the first of these uncouplers is not reversed by cyanide); (d) reagents affecting energy conservation (Ca2+, increasing pH, phosphate; phosphate inhibition is augmented by catalytic ADP or ATP and augmentation is abolished by respiratory inhibitors). Concentrations of mitochondrial glutathione are high when diamide reduction is uninhibited, but low after adding one of the above inhibitors such that the reduction rate is roughly proportional to the glutathione concentration. Endogenous ATP concentrations are lower in the presence of diamide than without, but the difference is abolished by respiratory inhibitors. With oligomycin added, however, ATP concentrations are higher in the presence of diamide and this positive increment is decreased by antimycin, N-ethylmaleimide and malonate. In the presence of diamide and an uncoupler, the mitochondrial glutathione content does not fall if various reducible substrates are present, although the inhibition of diamide reduction is not relieved. Some of these substrates prevent the fall in reduced glutathione concentration found with diamide and phosphate. They also relieve the inhibition of diamide reduction and the relief is sensitive to butylmalonate. The inhibition of diamide reduction by N-ethylmaleimide, mersalyl or p-hydroxymercuribenzoate is not relieved by reducible substrates, but the latter mitigate the fall in the concentration of glutathione. Inhibitors of carriers of tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates also inhibit reduction of diamide. The reduced glutathione concentration remains high when they are added singly, but falls when two of them are combined. It is proposed that diamide may enter the matrix as a protonated adduct formed with the thiol groups of mitochondrial carriers and then be reduced in the matrix by glutathione, which is regenerated via NADH, energy-dependent transhydrogenase and NADP+-specific glutathione reductase. Some of the high-energy equivalents required for the transhydrogeneration may be generated by the substrate phosphorylation step of the tricarboxylic acid cycle.     

Resolution and reconstitution of mitochondrial nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase.

Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase from bovine heart mitochondria was solubilized with cholate and partially purified by ammoniumsulphate fractionation and density gradient centrifugation. Compared to submitochondrial particles this preparation contained less than 10% of oligomycin-sensitive ATPase and cytochromes. When reconstituted with purified mitochondrial phosphatidylcholine, the enzyme catalyzed a reduction of NAD⁺ by NADPH that was stimulated by uncouplers and which showed a concomitent uncoupler-sensitive uptake of the lipophilic anion tetraphenylboron, indicating the generation of a membrane potential. It is concluded that transhydrogenase can energize the vesicles directly without the intervention of ATPase or cytochromes.     

The effect of Mg2+, nucleotides and ATPase inhibitors on the uptake of [3H]-cGMP to inside-out vesicles from human erythrocytes

An ATP-dependent transport system is responsible for the cellular extrusion of cGMP. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of Mg2+, ATP and other nucleotides (2'-dATP, GTP and ADP), exogenous ATPase modulators (such as metavanadate, ouabain, EGTA, NEM, bafilomycin A1 and oligomycin A) on the cGMP transport. The uptake of [3H]-cGMP (1 mu M) at 37 C was studied in inside-out vesicles from human erythrocytes. Magnesium caused a maximal activation between 5 and 10 mM and the optimal ATP concentration was 1.25 mM with K50-values of 0.3-0.5 mM. Among other nucleotides tested, 2'-dATP (K50 of 0.7 mM) was nearly as effective as ATP, whereas cGMP accumulated slowly in the presence of GTP. ADP and metavanadate (P-type ATPase inhibitor) showed to be competitive inhibitors with Ki values of 0.15 mM and 10 mu m, respectively. NEM (a sulphydryl agent) reduced the ATP-dependent uptake in a concentration-dependent manner with a Ki value of 10 mu M. Ouabain (Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor) had no effect. Bafilomycin A1 (V- type ATPase inhibitor) and oligomycin (F-type ATPase inhibitor) were the most potent inhibitors with Ki values of 0.7 and 1.8 mu M, respectively. The present study suggests that the cellular cGMP extrusion is energized by an ATPase with a unique inhibitor profile, which clearly differentiates it from the other major classes of membrane-bound ATPases.     

The control by delta mu H+ of the tonoplast-bound H+-translocating adenosine triphosphatase from rubber-tree (Hevea brasiliensis) latex.

The relationship between tonoplast-bound ATPase activity and the magnitude of the electrochemical proton gradient has been investigated on tightly sealed vesicles prepared from rubber-tree (Hevea brasiliensis) latex. A variety of methods have been used to modify, either alone or together, the two components of the electrochemical proton gradient (delta mu H+). When the delta pH component was decreased either by titration with (NH4)2SO4 or by addition of protonophores or nigericin in the presence of K+, ATPase activity was stimulated. On the other hand, when the delta psi component was decreased either by addition of lipophilic cations or by addition of valinomycin in the presence of K+, ATPase activity decreased. It is concluded that activity of the tonoplast-bound ATPase is regulated by changes in the electrochemical proton gradient across the tonoplast, so that, once the maximum proton gradient is established across the tonoplast, any perturbation of the equilibrium state should result in the increased rate of ATP hydrolysis as the enzyme attempts to re-establish the initial gradient.