Catalytic sites of mitochondrial ATPase with different properties. Effect of citrate, free ATP and ADP in the presence of dithionite

The extent of stimulation of the hydrolytic activity of mitochondrial ATPase by the reducing agent dithionite has been found to depend on substrate concentration both for the membrane bound enzyme and for the isolated and purified F1ATPase. The results suggest the existence of three catalytic sites differing in their standard reduction potential. The activating effect of free ATP on the hydrolytic activity of rat liver F1-ATPase has been found to be more pronounced on the reduced form of the enzyme. On the contrary, the inhibitory effect of ADP was higher on the oxidized form of F1-ATPase. Citrate has also been found to be an inhibitor of F1-ATPase; its effect was more pronounced on the reduced form of the enzyme, and exhibited a competitive pattern of inhibition with respect to free ATP. The results obtained have been interpreted in the sense that free ATP and ADP may be modifying the standard reduction potential of the enzyme, and suggest the existence of three independent redox cycles in ATPase governed by the exchange of ADP and Pi for the newly synthesized ATP.     

Effect of physiological electron donors and acceptors on F1-ATPase

The hydrolytic activity of F1-ATPase isolated from rat liver was enhanced in the presence of NADH, FADH2, QH2 or reduced cyt c. The extent of this activation depended largely on substrate concentration. F1-ATPase sensitivity to bicarbonate or dinitrophenol activators decreased in the presence of any of those electron donors, which originated as well a slight sensitivity to oligomycin and a sensitivity increase to the inhibitory anion OCN-. In the presence of oxidized carriers the sensitivity to bicarbonate, dinitrophenol, or OCN- was not modified, and the enzyme remained oligomycin insensitive.     

A novel mechanism of enzymic ester hydrolysis. Inversion of configuration and carbon-oxygen bond cleavage by secondary alkylsulphohydrolases from detergent-degrading micro-organisms.

Ligand-binding studies with labelled triethyltin on yeast mitochondrial membranes showed the presence of high-affinity sites (KD = 0.6 micronM; 1.2 +/- 0.3 nmol/mg of protein) and low-affinity sites (KD less than 45 micronM; 70 +/- 20 nmol/mg of protein). The dissociation constant of the high-affinity site is in good agreement with the concentration of triethyltin required for inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) and oxidative phosphorylation. The high-affinity site is not competed for by oligomycin or venturicidin, indicating that triethyltin reacts at a different site from these inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation. Fractionation of the mitochondrial membrane shows a specific association of the high-affinity sites with the ATP synthase complex. During purification of ATP synthase (oligomycin-sensitive ATPase) there is a 5-6-fold purification of oligomycin- and triethyltin-sensitive ATPase activity concomitant with a 7-9-fold increase in high-affinity triethyltin-binding sites. The purified yeast oligomycin-sensitive ATPase complex contains approximately six binding sites for triethyltin/mol of enzyme complex. It is concluded that specific triethyltin-binding sites are components of the ATP synthase complex, which accounts for the specific inhibition of ATPase and oxidative phosphorylation by triethyltin.     

Studies on energy-linked reactions: isolation and properties of mitochondrial venturicidin-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Venturicidin is a specific inhibitor of aerobic growth of yeast and has no effect on fermentative growth, a result which is consistent with its known mode of action on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Venturicidin-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been isolated and form two general classes: class 1, nuclear mutants which are resistant to a variety of mitochondrial inhibitors and uncouplers, and class 2, mitochondrial mutants of phenotype VENR OLYR and VENR TETR in vivo. VENR OLYR mutants show a high degree of resistance to venturicidin and oligomycin at the whole cell and mitochondrial ATPase level but, in contrast, no resistance at the mitochondrial level is observed with VENR TETR mutants. Venturicidin resistance/sensitivity can be correlated with two binding sites on mitochondrial ATPase, one of which is common to the oligomycin binding site and the other is common to the triethyl tin binding site. Biochemical genetic studies indicate that two mitochondrial genes specify venturicidin resistance/sensitivity and that the mitochondrial gene products are components of the mitochondrial ATPase complex.     

Biogenesis of mitochondria 36

Summary The isolation and characterisation of a mutant affecting the assembly of mitochondrial ATPase is reported. The mutation confers resistance to oligomycin and venturicidin and sensitivity of growth on nonfermentable substrates to low temperature (19°). Genetic analysis indicates that the phenotype is due to a single mutation located on the mitochondrial DNA which is probably allelic with the independently isolated oligomycin resistance mutation [oli1-r].Growth of the mutant at the non-restrictive temperature (28°) yields mitochondria in which the ATPase appears more sensitive to oligomycin than that of the sensitive parental strain. However, when the enzyme is isolated free from the influence of the membrane strong resistance to oligomycin is evident. These data suggest that the component responsible for the oligomycin resistance of the ATPase is part of or subject to interaction with the mitochondrial inner membrane.Measurements of the ATPase content of mitochondria indicate that ATPase production is impaired during growth at 19° C. In addition, studies of the maximum inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase activity by high concentrations of oligomycin suggest a selective lesion in ATPase assembly at low temperature. The nett result is that during growth at 19° only about 10% of the normal level of ATPase is produced of which less than half is membrane integrated and thus capable of oxidative energy production.We propose that the mutation affects a mitochondrially synthesised membrane sector peptide of the ATPase which defines the interaction of F₁ ATPase with specific environments on the mitochondrial inner membrane.     

Effect of nucleotides and inhibitory anions on mitochondrial ATPase. Its pH dependence

The effect of pH on the sensitivity of F1-ATPase as well as mitochondrial ATPase activity to nucleoside diand triphosphates and to inhibitory anions such as cyanate and thiocyanate, has been studied. The results obtained show that nucleotides could act as activators or inhibitors of the ATPase hydrolytic activity depending on pH, substrate concentration, and binding of the enzyme to the membrane. The effect of those nucleotides which activate the hydrolysis of ATP-Mg2+ was more pronounced beyon the optimum pH corresponding to each of the three catalytic sites of the enzyme, whereas those which are inhibitors had a lower effect above this value. The sensitivity to the inhibitory anions decreased with increasing pH values; the decrease in the inhibitory effect was sharper when approaching the optimum pH value. These data are in agreement with the existence in mitochondrial ATPase of two different regulatory sites, one being specific for binding nucleotides, and another for anions. Both of them showed a different response upon changes of pH.     

Reconstitution of Oxidative Phosphorylation and of Oligomycin-Sensitive ATPase by Five- and Six-Subunit Forms of Pea Mitochondrial F(1)-ATPase

Five- and six-subunit forms of F₁-ATPase were purified from pea (Pisum sativum L. cv Homesteader) cotyledon submitochondrial particles. Apart from the usual complement of five subunits, the six-subunit enzyme contained an additional 26,500-dalton protein. Both forms of the F₁-ATPase were used to reconstitute oxidative phosphorylation in F₁-depleted (ASU) as well as in F₁ and oligomycin-sensitivity conferring protein (OSCP)-depleted (ASUA) bovine mitochondrial membranes. The six-subunit enzyme was considerably more efficient in reconstituting the ATP synthesis than the five-subunit enzyme. Both forms of the enzyme were also able to reconstitute the ATPase activity in ASU- as well as in ASUA-particles. There were substantial differences, however, in the oligomycin sensitivity of the ATPase bound to the ASUA-particles: 20 and 60% inhibition by oligomycin was obtained in the case of the five-subunit and six-subunit enzyme, respectively. We conclude, that the 26,500-dalton protein present in the six-subunit F₁-ATPase is responsible for the increase in oligomycin sensitivity of the bound enzyme and functions, therefore, as the plant OSCP.     

Inhibition of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation in plant mitochondria by gladiolic acid and structurally-related aromatic ortho dialdehydes

Gladiolic acid (GA, 4-methoxy-5-methyl-0-phthalaldehyde-3-carboxylic acid), an antifungal aromatic ortho dialdehyde produced by Penicillium gladioli was found to be a potent inhibitor of electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation reactions in sweet potato and mung bean mitochondria. Similar results were also found with the naturally occurring ortho dialdehydes, cyclopaldic acid, quadrilineatin, and flavipin as well as the synthetic dialdehydes, 3-formyl opianic acid and 0-phthalaldehyde. Because of their highly reactive ortho-diformyl grouping, GA and structurally related dialdehydes apparently act as multisite inhibitors affecting electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation (at each coupling site). Gladiolic acid has no uncoupling effect like 2,4-dinitrophenol and does not have the same point of interaction in the energy transfer process as oligomycin. Several "partial" reactions of phosphorylation (Mg+2-DNP-stimulated ATPase; ATP-Pi exchange) were strongly inhibited by the various dialdehydes. Flavipin and quadrilineatin are potent inhibitors (80% at a concentration of 25 microM) of site III phosphorylation. Gladiolic acid and related ortho dialdehydes inactivate the catalytic activity of native cytochrome c in vitro. Lysyl epsilon-NH2 rich cytochrome c may be a major site of GA action in the intact mitochondrion. In view of the high chemical reactivity of the orthodiformyl group, it is suggested that mitochondrial function may be affected by aromatic ortho dialdehydes through a combination of reactions involving cross-linking of amino groups on membrane polypeptides and monofunctional reaction with free amino groups important for enzyme function, including epsilon-NH2 groups on cytochrome c. Cross-linking in mitochondrial membrane systems might affect function by interfering with molecular motion in the operation of the terminal portion of the electron-transport chain. The primary toxicological mode of action of GA and related dialdehydes appears to be due to inhibition of mitochondrial function.     

Up-regulation of the ATPase Inhibitory Factor 1 (IF1) of the Mitochondrial H+-ATP Synthase in Human Tumors Mediates the Metabolic Shift of Cancer Cells to a Warburg Phenotype

The H⁺-ATP synthase is a reversible engine of mitochondria that synthesizes or hydrolyzes ATP upon changes in cell physiology. ATP synthase dysfunction is involved in the onset and progression of diverse human pathologies. During ischemia, the ATP hydrolytic activity of the enzyme is inhibited by the ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1). The expression of IF1 in human tissues and its participation in the development of human pathology are unknown. Here, we have developed monoclonal antibodies against human IF1 and determined its expression in paired normal and tumor biopsies of human carcinomas. We show that the relative mitochondrial content of IF1 increases significantly in carcinomas, suggesting the participation of IF1 in oncogenesis. The expression of IF1 varies significantly in cancer cell lines. To investigate the functional activity of IF1 in cancer, we have manipulated its cellular content. Overexpression of IF1 or of its pH-insensitive H49K mutant in cells that express low levels of IF1 triggers the up-regulation of aerobic glycolysis and the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation with concurrent mitochondrial hyperpolarization. Treatment of the cells with the H⁺-ATP synthase inhibitor oligomycin mimicked the effects of IF1 overexpression. Conversely, small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of IF1 in cells that express high levels of IF1 promotes the down-regulation of aerobic glycolysis and the increase in oxidative phosphorylation. Overall, these findings support that the mitochondrial content of IF1 controls the activity of oxidative phosphorylation mediating the shift of cancer cells to an enhanced aerobic glycolysis, thus supporting an oncogenic role for the de-regulated expression of IF1 in cancer.     

Influence of adenine nucleotides on oligomycin inhibition of energy-transducing reactions in intact rat-liver mitochondria.

The inhibitory effect of oligomycin was investigated in intact mitochondria through oxidative phosphorylation and uncoupler induced ATPase activity. Results show that oligomycin inhibition curves can be either sigmoidal or hyperbolic depending on experimental conditions and chiefly on the metabolic state of mitochondria with regard to the distribution of mitochondrial endogenous adenine-nucleotides. Active respiration and uncoupler-induced ATPse activity produce sigmoidal titration curves for a high initial ATP : ADP ratio and hyperbolic curves for a low ATP : ADP ratio. Time-dependent inhibitions are observed for the two reactions. The maximal inhibitory action for low concentrations of the inhibitor is delayed by the initial presence of ATP or the possibility of generating from inorganic phosphate before adding oligomycin. Results presented here show that the initial adenine-nucleotide distribution is important for oligomycin sensitivity of energy-linked reactions. Although a limited conformational change of the oligomycin-sensitivity to the inhibitor, it is more likely that a gross structural change of the inner membrane induced by adenine-nucleotides modifies membrane permeability to oligomycin.     

Underestimation of the Maximal Capacity of the Mitochondrial Electron Transport System in Oligomycin-Treated Cells

The maximal capacity of the mitochondrial electron transport system (ETS) in intact cells is frequently estimated by promoting protonophore-induced maximal oxygen consumption preceded by inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation by oligomycin. In the present study, human glioma (T98G and U-87MG) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cells were titrated with different concentrations of the protonophore CCCP to induce maximal oxygen consumption rate (OCR) within respirometers in a conventional growth medium. The results demonstrate that the presence of oligomycin or its A-isomer leads to underestimation of maximal ETS capacity. In the presence of oligomycin, the spare respiratory capacity (SRC), i.e., the difference between the maximal and basal cellular OCR, was underestimated by 25 to 45%. The inhibitory effect of oligomycin on SRC was more pronounced in T98G cells and was observed in both suspended and attached cells. Underestimation of SRC also occurred when oxidative phosphorylation was fully inhibited by the ATP synthase inhibitor citreoviridin. Further experiments indicated that oligomycin cannot be replaced by the adenine nucleotide translocase inhibitors bongkrekic acid or carboxyatractyloside because, although these compounds have effects in permeabilized cells, they do not inhibit oxidative phosphorylation in intact cells. We replaced CCCP by FCCP, another potent protonophore and similar results were observed. Lower maximal OCR and SRC values were obtained with the weaker protonophore 2,4-dinitrophenol, and these parameters were not affected by the presence of oligomycin. In permeabilized cells or isolated brain mitochondria incubated with respiratory substrates, only a minor inhibitory effect of oligomycin on CCCP-induced maximal OCR was observed. We conclude that unless a previously validated protocol is employed, maximal ETS capacity in intact cells should be estimated without oligomycin. The inhibitory effect of an ATP synthase blocker on potent protonophore-induced maximal OCR may be associated with impaired metabolism of mitochondrial respiratory substrates.     

Inhibitor studies with adenohypophyseal granule membrane ATPase. Evidence for a membrane environment which modulates sensitivity to inhibitors

The limiting membranes of pituitary growth hormone and prolactin secretory granules contain a Mg2+-ATPase sensitive to anions. This enzyme is in many ways similar to mitochondrial ATPase. The enzyme was potently inhibited by oligomycin (Ki 6.5 X 10(-9) M), and was much more sensitive to the inhibitor than pituitary mitochondrial ATPase (Ki 2.7 X 10(-7) M). In contrast, the enzyme activity of intact secretory granules was only sparingly inhibited by oligomycin (maximal inhibition close to 30% at 5 X 10(-4) M). However, oligomycin (5 microM) did diminish to basal levels the enhanced granule ATPase activity observed in the presence of a stimulatory anion (25 mM sodium sulfite). Other compounds known to inhibit the proton translocating mitochondrial ATPase were also tested for their ability to inhibit the secretory granule ATPase. A similar pattern of limited inhibition in granules and greater sensitivity in isolated membranes was seen with the inhibitors N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and efrapeptin. In contrast, tri-n-butyltin chloride was a potent inhibitor of the ATPase of intact granules, and the susceptibility of the enzyme to inhibition by this compound was less after isolation of membranes. These observations suggest that pituitary secretory granule membrane ATPase may have a proton pumping function similar to that of the mitochondrial enzyme. In addition, the data imply that the inhibitor binding site(s) may be masked, inaccessible, or ineffective in intact granules, but exposed (or activated) in isolated membranes. The greater sensitivity of granule ATPase to tri-n-butyltin chloride, in contrast to the greater sensitivity of membrane ATPase to the other inhibitors, indicates that the tin compound may be effective at a membrane site(s) distinct from the others, or that the mechanism of inhibition is different.     

Specific properties of brown adipose tissue mitochondrial membrane.

1. Mitochondrial membrane of brown adipose tissue compared to that of liver possesses a very high activity of oxidative enzymes but a low activity of ATPase. 2. The polypeptide composition of the mitochondrial membranes proves that the above differences in enzyme activities are due to increased content of oxidative enzymes and decreased content of ATPase in brown adipose tissue. 3. The inhibition of ATPase of brown adipose tissue mitochondria by aurovertin, oligomycin and DCCD indicates modified proportions between the components of the ATPase complex. 4. The organization of brown adipose tissue mitochondrial membrane in relation to its thermogenic function is discussed.     

Studies of energy-linked reactions. Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation by DL-8-methyldihydrolipoate.

1. DL-8-Methyldihydrolipoate was shown to be a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and ATP-driven energy-linked reactions. 2. ADP-stimulated respiration utilizing pyruvate + malate and succinate in both ox heart and rat liver mitochondria is inhibited; oxidative phosphorylation using pyruvate + malate, succinate and ascorbate + NNN'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as substrates is also inhibited; uncoupler-stimulated respiration is unaffected regardless of the substrate used. 3. Mitochondrial oligomycin-sensitive adenosine triphosphatase is inhibited in both the membrane-bound form and the purified detergent-dispersed preparation. 4. ATP-driven transhydrogenase and the ATP-driven energy-linked reduction of NAD+ by succinate in ox heart submitochondrial particles are inhibited, whereas the respiratory-chain-driven transhydrogenase is unaffected. 5. DL-8-Methyl-lipoate has no immediate effect on the above reactions, demonstrating the requirement for the reduced form for inhibition. 6. The inhibitory properties of DL-8-methyldihydrolipoate are analogous to those of oligomycin and provide further evidence of a role for lipoic acid in oxidative phosphorylation.     

Oxidative stress and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation induced by peroxynitrite and nitrite in rat brain subcellular fractions

Nitrite and nitrate, two endogenous oxides of nitrogen, are toxic in vivo. Furthermore, the reaction of superoxide (produced by all aerobic cells) with nitric oxide (NO) generates peroxynitrite, a potent oxidizing agent, that can cause biological oxidative stress. Using subcellular fractions from rat brain hemispheres we studied oxidative stress induced by these nitrogen compounds with special emphasis on nitrite. The consumption of Vitamin C (ascorbate) and Vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), two of the important nutritional antioxidants, was followed in synaptosomes (nerve-ending particles) and mitochondria along with changes in parameters of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Nitrite, but not nitrate, oxidized ascorbate without oxidizing alpha tocopherol in both synaptosomes and mitochondria whereas peroxynitrite oxidized both ascorbate and alpha tocopherol. Functionally, both nitrite and peroxynitrite inhibited mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Nitrite was less potent than peroxynitrite when the effects of equal concentrations of the two were compared. However, since nitrite is much more stable than peroxynitrite the impact of nitrite as an oxidant in vivo could be as much or even more significant than peroxynitrite. Nitrate would not have similar action unless it is reduced to nitrite. It is possible that nitrite may impair oxidative phosphorylation through modulating levels of nitric oxide, changing the activity of heme proteins or a mild uncoupling of mitochondria.     

An acyl-thioesterase from yeast mitochondria

A previously unstudied acyl-coenzyme A thioesterase activity has been demonstrated in submitochondrial particles from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The preferred substrate for the enzyme activity is oleoyl-coenzyme A. Tests with inhibitors of the thioesterase showed that, in addition to common thiol inhibitors, the oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors oligomycin and venturicidin also blocked thioesterase activity. Purification of the enzyme catalyzing this activity revealed that thioesterase copurified with mitochondrial ATPase. When thioesterase was isolated from oxidative phosphorylation mutants selected for resistance to these two inhibitors, thioesterase activity was also resistant. The results suggest that thioester hydrolysis may be catalyzed by components associated with the isolated ATPase complex. Further attempts to link this activity to in vivo function of ATPase were not successful.     

Cell-free synthesis of mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor precursor and its transport into yeast mitochondria

ATPase inhibitor protein, which blocks mitochondrial ATPase activity by forming an enzyme-inhibitor complex, was found to be synthesized as a larger precursor in a cell-free translation system directed by yeast mRNA. Other protein factors, which stabilize latent ATPase by binding to the enzyme-inhibitor complex, were also found to be formed as larger precursors. The precursor of ATPase inhibitor protein was transported into isolated yeast mitochondria and was cleaved to the mature peptide in the mitochondria. Impaired mitochondria lacking phosphorylation activity could not convert the precursor to the mature form. Neither antimycin A nor oligomycin alone exhibited a marked effect on the transport-processing of the precursor by intact mitochondria. However, when antimycin A was added with oligomycin, the transport-processing was markedly inhibited. The processing was also strongly inhibited by an uncoupler, carbonylcyanide p-trifluoro-methoxyphenyl hydrazone. The inhibition by the uncoupler was not relieved by ATP added externally. It is concluded that the transport-processing of precursor proteins requires intact mitochondria with a potential difference across the inner membrane.     

Mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase of wild-type and poky Neurospora crassa.

We have compared the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of mitochondria prepared from wild-type Neurospora crassa and from poky, a maternally inherited mutant known to possess defective mitochondrial ribosomes and reduced amounts of cytochromes aa3 and b. poky contains two distinct forms of mitochondrial ATPase. The first is normal in its Km for ATP, specificity for nucleotides and divalent cations, pH optimum, cold stability, and sensitivity to inhibitors (oligomycin, N,N-dicyclohexyl carbodiimide, and adenylyl imidodiphosphate). The fact that membrane-bound, cold-stable, oligomycin-sensitive ATPase activity is present in poky (with an activity of 1.93 +/- 0.03 mumol/min-mg of protein compared with 1.33 +/- 0.07 mumol/min-mg of protein in the wild-type strain) and also in chloramphenicol-grown wild-type cells suggests that products of mitochondrial protein synthesis play only a limited role in the attachment of the mitochondrial ATPase to the membrane in Neurospora. poky also contains a second form of mitochondrial ATPase, which has an activity of 1.5 +/- 0.2 mumol/min-mg of protein, is oligomycin sensitive but cold labile, and presumably is attached less firmly to the mitochondrial membrane. The two forms, added together, represent a substantial overproduction of mitochondrial ATPase by poky.     

ATPase complex and oxidative phosphorylation in chloramphenicol-induced megamitochondria from mouse liver.

1. Functional properties of the ATPase complex are investigated in megamitochondria isolated from livers of weanling mice fed a diet containing 2% chloramphenicol, as an inhibitor of mitochondrial protein synthesis. 2. Whereas the specific activity of ATPase remains unchanged in chloramphenicol-induced megamitochondria, about 40% of the enyzme activity is resistant to inhibition by oligomycin, triethyltin or venturicidin. It is concluded that the ATPase complex lacks one or more components whose synthesis or accumulation is dependent on mitochondrial translation. The inhibitor-resistant ATPase portion appears tightly bound to the mitochondrial membrane. 3. Respiratory chain phosphorylation is tightly coupled in isolated megamitochondria. ATP synthesis and ATP-Pi exchange are diminished by 40%, as compared to control mitochondria, but both processes are sensitive to oligomycin, triethyltin or venturicidin. 4. The decrease in ATP synthesis and ATP-Pi exchange in megamitochondria correlates quite well with the emergence of inhibitor-resistant ATPase. 5. The following electron transport activities in the megmitochondria are reduced: NADH-cytochrome c reductase, by 60%, cytochrome oxidase, by 80%; the amount of antimycin required to gain complete inhibition of the bc1-segment is diminished by more than 50%. On the other hand succinate dehydrogenase activity is increased by 50%. 6. Chloramphenicol-induced megamitochondria appear to be a useful system for studying the role of mitochondrial translation in the assembly of mammalian mitochondria.     

Inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation by Ca2+ or Sr2+: a competition with Mg2+ for the formation of adenine nucleotide complexes

Intramitochondrial Sr2+, similar to Ca2+, inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in intact rat-liver mitochondria. Both Ca2+ and Sr2+ also inhibit the hydrolytic activity of the ATPase in submitochondrial particles. Half-maximal inhibition of ATPase activity was attained at a concentration of 2.5 mM Ca2+ or 5.0 mM Sr2+ when the concentration of Mg2+ in the medium was 1.0 mM. The inhibition of ATPase activity by both cations was strongly decreased by increasing the Mg2+ concentration in the reaction medium. In addition, kinetical data and the determination of the concentration of MgATP, the substrate of the ATPase, in the presence of different concentrations of Ca2+ or Sr2+ strongly indicate that these cations inhibit ATP hydrolysis by competing with Mg2+ for the formation of MgATP. On the basis of a good agreement between these results with submitochondrial particles and the results of titrations of oxidative phosphorylation with carboxyatractyloside or oligomycin in mitochondria loaded with Sr2+ it can be concluded that intramitochondrial Ca2+ or Sr2+ inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in intact mitochondria by decreasing the availability of adenine nucleotides to both the ADP/ATP carrier and the ATP synthase.