Inhibition of chloroplast coupling factor by naphthylglyoxal

The trypsin-activated Ca²⁺ -ATPase of spinach chloroplast membranes was completely inhibited by treatment with naphthylglyoxal, a fluorescent compound that should bind covalently to arginine residues. The inhibition followed apparent first-order kinetics. The apparent order of reaction with respect to inhibitor concentration gave values near unity, suggesting that inactivation is a consequence of modifying one arginine residue per active site. Partial protection against naphthylglyoxal was afforded by ADP and ATP, with either less or no protection by other nucleotide bases. At inhibition levels less than complete, the K_m for ATP was not affected but the V_max of the enzyme was diminished. The light-dependent exchange of tightly bound nucleotides on the membrane-bound enzyme was not inhibited by naphthylglyoxal treatment, indicating significant retention of the conformational response of the enzyme to the membrane high-energy state. Using [³H]naphthylglyoxal, the extent of inhibition was a linear function of the amount of naphthylglyoxal bound up to 60% inhibition. The curves extrapolated to 2 mol naphthylglyoxal bound, associated with complete inhibition of ATPase. The radioactive naphthylglyoxal was distributed equally between α- and β-subunits.     

Hydrogen exchange into soluble spinach chloroplast coupling factor during heat activation of its ATPase

Exchange of 500–600 atoms of ³H per mol of solubilized spinach chloroplast coupling factor (CF₁) occurs when the enzyme is incubated for 4 min in ³H₂O at 63°C. These ³H atoms are bound in parts of the protein where exchange is hindered by the three-dimensional structure at 25°C. Back-exchange at 25°C shows complex kinetics, with at least two kinetic components having half-times of 1.4 and 40 h, respectively. Back-exchange from the denatured enzyme is extremely rapid with an apparent half-time of the order of 20–30 s. The time courses for exchange and ATPase activation are very similar at 63°C, and reasonably close at 25°C. Both reactions have an optimum temperature of 60°C when measured after 4 min. Activation of ATPase requires a strong reducing agent to be present, but this is not needed for hydrogen exchange. It is suggested that an open conformation of CF₁ induced by heat may be a required intermediate for the rapid activation of ATPase, being a sporadic and rare occurrence at 25°C but also a required step in ATPase activation. This open conformation could be related to that induced in bound CF₁ by thylakoid membrane energization.     

Evidence for solvent-induced conformational changes of the soluble Dunaliella chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1)

The ATPase activity of the chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF₁) isolated from the green alga Dunaliella is completely latent. A brief heat treatment irreversibly induces a Ca²⁺ -dependent activity. The Ca²⁺ dependent ATPase activity can be reversibly inhibited by ethanol, which changes the divalent cation dependency from Ca²⁺ to Mg²⁺. Both the Ca²⁺ -dependent and Mg²⁺ -dependent ATPase activities of heat-treated Dunaliella CF₁ are inhibited by monospecific antisera directed against Chlamydomonas reinhardi CF₁. However, when assayed under identical conditions, the Ca²⁺ -dependent ATPase activity is significantly more sensitive to inhibition by the antisera than is the Mg²⁺ -dependent activity. These data are interpreted as indicating that soluble Dunaliella CF₁ can exist in a variety of conformations, at least one of which catalyzes a Ca²⁺ -dependent ATPase and two or more of which catalyze an Mg²⁺ -dependent ATPase.     

Characterization of nucleotide binding sites on the membrane-bound chloroplast ATP synthase (coupling factor CF1)

Phosphorylation of ADP and nucleotide exchange by membrane-bound coupling factor CF₁ are very fast reactions in the light, so that a direct comparison of both reactions is difficult. By adding substrate ADP and phosphate to illuminated thylakoids together with the uncoupler FCCP, the phosphorylation time is limited and the amount of ATP formed can be reduced to less than 1 ATP per enzyme. Low concentrations of medium nucleotides during illumination increase the amount of ATP formed during uncoupling presumably by binding to the tight nucleotide binding site (further designated as ‘site A’) with an affinity of 1 to 7 μM for ADP and ATP. ATP formation itself shows half-saturation at about 30 μM. Loosely bound nucleotides are exchanged upon addition of nucleotides with uncoupler (Schumann, J. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 766, 334–342). Release depends binding of nucleotides to a second site. The affinity of this site for ADP (in the presence of phosphate) is about 30 μM. It is assumed that phosphorylation and induction of exchange both occur on the same site (site B). During ATP hydrolysis, an ATP molecule is bound to site A, while on another site, ATP is hydrolyzed rapidly. The affinity of ADP for the catalytic site (70 μM) is in the same range as the observed Michaelis constant of ADP during phosphorylation; it is assumed that site B is involved in ATP hydrolysis. Site A exhibits some catalytic activity; it might be that site A is involved in ATP formation in a dual-site mechanism. For ATP hydrolysis, however, direct determination of exchange rates showed that the exchange rate of ATP bound to site A is about 30-times lower than ATP hydrolysis under the same conditions.     

Properties of the solvent-stimulated ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardii

The effects of solvents on the ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF₁) isolated from wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardii have been studied. Of the solvents examined, the following order summarizes their maximal ability to stimulate the ATPase activity of CF₁: ethanol > methanol>allyl alcohol >n-propanol > acetone≈dioxane > ethylene glycol. Glycerol inhibits the CF₁ activity at all concentrations. In the absence of organic solvents, 50% of the activity of the enzyme is irreversibly lost after a 10 min incubation at 65–70°C. Ethanol (23%) causes a 30°C drop in the temperature required for 50% inactivation. ATP partially stabilizes the CF₁ in the presence, but not in the absence, of ethanol. In the absence of organic solvents, both free Mg²⁺ and ADP inhibit the CF₁-ATPase. Mg²⁺ is a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to MgATP, and the kinetic constants are: V, 6.3 μmol ATP hydrolyzed/mg protein per min; K_m(MgATP), 0.23 mM; K_ii(Mg²⁺), 27 μM; and K_is(Mg²⁺), 50 μM. In the presence of ethanol, double-reciprocal plots are no longer linear and have a Hill coefficient of about 1.8±0.1. V increases about 10–12-fold. The pattern of inhibition by Mg²⁺ appears to change from noncompetitive to competitive with respect to MgATP. In addition, ADP no longer inhibits the MgATPase activity of CF₁.     

Control of CO2 fixation. Regulation of spinach ribulose-5-phosphate kinase by stromal metabolite levels

The effect of stromal metabolites on the light-activated form of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase was studied with the enzyme rapidly extracted from illuminated spinach chlorplasts. In some instances, the effect of metabolites on the dark-inactivated enzyme extracted from darkened chloroplasts was also investigated. (1) The light-activated form of the enzyme is competitively inhibited with respect to ribulose 5-phosphate by 6-phosphogluconate, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate and phosphate. Also, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate is inhibitory. All these compounds, except ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, show an increasing inhibitory effect at lower pH values. Therefore, in the presence of these inhibitors, ribulose-5-phosphate kinase becomes strongly pH dependent. These compounds also exert an inhibitory effect on the dark-inactivated enzyme. (2) The assay of stromal levels of 6-phosphogluconate showed that this compound increased dramatically during a light-dark transient. (3) The dark-inactivated form of ribulose-5-phosphate kinase is strongly inhibited by ADP, the inhibition being competitive with respect to ATP. (4) A simulation of stromal metabolite levels in the enzyme activity assay indicates that in illuminated chloroplasts ribulose-5-phosphate kinase attains only about 4% of its maximal activity. When the fully light-activated enzyme is assayed under conditions occurring in the stroma in the dark, the activity is further decreased by a factor of 20. The same assay with the dark-inactivated enzyme yields an activity of virtually zero. (5) These results demonstrate that in the chloroplasts ribulose-5-phosphate kinase can not only be very efficiently switched off in the dark, but also be subjected to fine control during the illuminated state through the action of stromal metabolites.     

Effects of nitrofen on chloroplast coupling factor-dependent reactions

Nucleotides induce a conformational change in the proteins of the CF₀-CF₁ complex. They give rise to reduced proton permeability of the thylakoid membranes. This reaction is paralleled by an enhanced yield of the steady-state proton uptake and a reduced nonphosphorylating electron-transport rate. Nitrofen acts as an energy-transfer inhibitor. It inhibits the rate of nucleotide exchange on CF₁ both at ‘loose’ and ‘tight’ binding sites. During illumination the percentage of nucleotide-free CF₀-CF₁ complex seems to be enhanced in the presence of nitrofen. This results in a prevention of the described ADP effects on proton uptake and electron transport. These similar effects of nitrofen on loose and tight nucleotide-binding sites correspond with the idea that both types are different states of identical sites.     

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.     

Flash-induced photophosphorylation in chloroplasts with activated ATPase

Chloroplasts which were rapidly isolated from illuminated leaves showed activity of ATP hydrolysis at a level much higher than that of the dark control. Under the high-intensity illumination or under repetitive flash excitation, the activated chloroplasts synthesized more ATP than those with a low ATP hydrolysis activity. formed under repetitive flashes was smaller in the activated chloroplasts than in the inactive chloroplasts. The inhibition of ATP yield per flash by valinomycin or nigericin in the presence of K⁺ was stronger in the inactive chloroplasts than in the activated chloroplast. ATP synthesis in the activated chloroplasts seems to have a lower threshold.     

Complementarity of ATP-induced and light-induced absorbance changes around 515 nm

A comparative study of the light-induced and the ATP-induced changes of P-515 absorbance gave the following results: (1) Following light activation of the latent ATP-hydrolase, ATP can induce a ΔA(515) of about the same size as that observed either in continuous light or by a saturating light flash. The ATP-induced ΔA(515) is stable in the dark as long as ATP is hydrolysed. (2) Any preceding ATP-induced ΔA(515) reduces the size of a consequent light-induced ΔA(515), and vice versa. The total P-515 absorbance change which can be induced by ATP and light is constant; there is strict complementarity of ATP- and light-induced ΔA(515). (3) The suppression of the flash-induced ΔA(515) by a preceding ATP-induced ΔA(515) is accompanied by an about 15-fold acceleration of the overall dark-decay rate, which is not further accelerated by addition of 0.2 μM valinomycin. (4) Adopting the kinetic model of Schapendonk (Doctoral Thesis, Wageningen, 1980) it is concluded that the apparent acceleration of the overall dark-decay rate results from a specific elimination of the slowly decaying ‘Reaction II’ component. ATP hydrolysis is suggested to produce and to maintain the Reaction II-type electrochromic pigment shift in the dark. (5) The data offer an alternative explanation to the prevailing notion that increased proton conductance via the activated ATPase is the main cause for the apparent acceleration of the overall decay rate of the flash-induced ΔA(515) following preillumination or under ‘phosphorylating conditions’. (6) On the basis of the presented data it is argued that the total number of available sites which can produce a Reaction II-type electrochromic pigment shift is strictly limited. Consequently, the notion of a localized ATP- or light-induced field is favored. The properties of this localized field would suggest a close link to energy-dependent changes at the coupling factor complex and to the electrogenic reactions coupled with cyclic photophosphorylation.     

The redox state of the NADP system in illuminated chloroplasts

Pyridine nucleotide levels were measured in intact spinach chloroplasts. The NADPH/NADP ratio was close to unity in darkened chloroplasts. On illumination, chloroplast NADP levels decreased rapidly. The decrease was more prominent at low than at high light intensities. In the presence of bicarbonate, NADP subsequently increased to reach a steady-state level. The kinetics of the increase were related in general, but not in detail, to the lag phase of photosynthesis. In the steady state, chloroplast NADP was sometimes, particularly during photosynthesis at high light intensities, less reduced in the light than in the dark. In the dark-light transition, phosphoglycerate reduction is driven by increases in the ratios NADPH/NADP and ATP/ADP. When photosynthesis accelerates after the initial lag phase, the NADPH/NADP ratio decreases and a high ratio of phosphoglycerate to triose phosphate becomes an important factor in driving carbon reduction. Under photosynthetic flux conditions, the redox state of the chloroplast NADP system appeared to be governed largely by the chloroplast ratio of phosphoglycerate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate and by the phosphorylation potential [ATP]/[ADP] [P_i]. The inhibitor of cyclic electron transport, antimycin A, increased reduction of the chloroplast NADP system. Even when reduction was almost complete in the presence of 5 μM antimycin A, photosynthesis was still significant at low light intensities. Electrons appeared to be effectively distributed between the cyclic electron-transport pathway and the noncyclic route to NADP at NADPH/NADP ratios as low as about 1. When bicarbonate was absent, the NADP system remained largely reduced in the light. The energy-transfer inhibitor, Dio-9, and uncouplers and agents which interfered with pH regulation of the Calvin cycle increased reduction of the NADP system while decreasing photosynthesis.     

Differential inhibition of Pi-ATP exchange in relation to ATP synthesis and hydrolysis by modification of chloroplast thylakoid membranes with glutaraldehyde

Limited modification of thylakoid membranes with glutaraldehyde inhibits the P_i-ATP exchange reaction much more than ATP synthesis or hydrolysis. More extensive modification of the membranes results in the inhibition of all activities of the ATP synthetase, but does not affect electron transport. Limited modification also does not have much effect on the tight binding of [³H]ADP or the ΔpH supported by ATP hydrolysis. The modification affects the catalytic process itself and not the activation of the latent enzyme. Cross-linking between thylakoid polypeptides is observed only after extensive treatment with glutaraldehyde, while limited modification does not result in cross-linking between polypeptides. The differential inhibition of the P_i-ATP exchange relative to ATP hydrolysis can be explained by the decrease in only one of the kinetic rate constants involved in these reactions. However, the relative insensitivity of photophosphorylation to the modification suggests that different enzyme conformations may participate in phosphorylation (light) and ATP hydrolysis or P_i-ATP exchange (dark).     

Modulation of the chloroplast ATPase by tight binding of nucleotides

Inactivation of the chloroplast ATPase upon tight nucleotide binding was studied with several adenine nucleotide analogs. Compared with ADP, the other nucleoside diphosphates were less effective in the follwing order: IDP >?-ADP > 1-oxido-ADP > GDP. The nucleotide analogs compete with ADP for binding to the tight nucleotide-binding site(s) on the ATPase and also prevent further inactivation by ADP. AdoPP[NH]P also causes inactivation but has a lower affinity than ADP. [³H]GDP binds tightly to the ATPase, but the resulting enzyme-GDP complex is more readily dissociable than the enzyme-ADP complex. Although both nucleotides appear to bind to the same site, the catalytic and binding properties of the coresponding nucletide-enzyme complexes differ. Binding of GDP also decreases the rate and extent of the sontaneous decay of the activated enzyme. PP_i decreases the rate of inacivation caused by ADP and also the level of tigthly buond ADP. Based on these results, we suggest that two different confomations of the ATPase exist which contain tigthly bound ADP. The active conformation is conveted to the inactive conformation in the absence of a continued supply of energy by illumination or ATP hydrolysis.     

Effect of methanol on spinach thylakoid ATPase

Methanol at 35% ($\text{v}\text{v}$) overcomes the latency of spinach thylakoid ATPase. Activation is immediate and reversible involving changes in the V_max, not the K_m of the enzyme, MgATP is a much better substrate than CaATP; free Mg²⁺ noncompetitively inhibits activity. This inhibition can be overcome by the addition of Na₂SO₃. While both MgATP and MgGTP act as substrates, free ATP and GTP both inhibit activity. ADP and MgADP are also inhibitory. Insensitivity to certain inhibitors indicates that methanol neither induces the same conformational changes in CF₁ as illumination does, nor does it lead to coupling between H⁺ movement through CF₀ and ATP hydrolysis. Methanol activation provides a much improved method for assaying thylakoid ATPase.     

Light/dark labeling differences in chloroplast membrane polypeptides associated with chloroplast coupling factor 0

The fluorogenic reagent fluorescamine has been used to determine the labeling patterns of Type C spinach chloroplast membrane polypeptides. Membrane polypeptides labeled with fluorescamine were detected by scanning high resolution sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gradient slab gels for fluorescence emission.Three membrane polypeptides show a decrease in the extent of labeling when chloroplast membranes are labeled in the light compared to when they are labeled in the dark. These polypeptides have apparent molecular weights of 32 000, 23 000 and 15 000.The decrease in labeling observed in the light is abolished or reduced by treatments which inactivate the light-generated transmembrane pH gradient. CF₁-depleted chloroplasts show neither a light-activated pH gradient nor a light/dark difference in labeling of these three polypeptides. Both a light-activated pH gradient and light/dark differences in labeling are observed in CF₁-depleted chloroplasts which have been treated with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide.The same ammonium sulfate fractions of a 2% sodium cholate extract, which are believed to be enriched in the membrane-bound sector of the chloroplast ATPase (CF_o) are also found to be enriched in the 32 000, 23 000 and 15 000 molecular weight polypeptides. The three polypeptides are believed to be components of CF_o, and the light/dark labeling differences may indicate conformational changes within CF_o. Such conformational changes may reflect a mechanism which couples light-generated proton gradients to ATP synthesis.