Conformation and activity of chloroplast coupling factor exposed to low chemical potential of water in cells

(1) Photophosphorylation, fCa²⁺-ATPase and Mg²⁺-ATPase activities of isolated chloroplasts were inhibited 55–65% when the chemical potential of water was decreased by dehydrating leaves to water potentials (ψ_w) of ?25 bars before isolation of the plastids. The inhibition could be reversed in vivo by rehydrating the leaves.(2) These losses in activity were reflected in coupling factor (CF₁) isolated from the leaves, since CF₁ from leaves with low ?_w had less Ca²⁺-ATPase activity than control CF₁ and did not recouple phosphorylation in CF₁-deficient chloroplasts. In contrast, CF₁ from leaves having high ?_w only partially recoupled phosphorylation by CF₁-deficient chloroplasts from leaves having low ?_w. This indicated that low ?_w affected chloroplast membranes as well as CF₁ itself.(3) Coupling factor from leaves having low ψ_w had the same number of subunits, and the same electrophoretic mobility, and could be obtained with the same yields as CF₁ from control leaves. However, direct measurements of fluorescence polarization, ultraviolet absorption, and circular dichroism showed that CF₁ from leaves having low ?_w differed from control CF₁. The CF₁ from leaves having low ?_w also had decreased ability to bind fluorescent nucleotides (?-ATP and ?-ADP).(4) Exposure of isolated CF₁ to low ?_w in vitro by preincubation in sucrose-containing media inhibited the Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of the protein in subsequent assays without sucrose. Inclusion of 5 or 10 mM Mg²⁺ in the preincubation medium markedly inhibited Ca²⁺-ATPase activity.(5) These results show that CF₁ undergoes changes in cells which alter its phosphorylating ability. Since low cell ?_w changed the spectroscopic properties but not other protein properties of CF₁, the changes were most likely caused by altered conformation of the protein. This decreased the binding of nucleotides and, in turn, photophosphorylation. The inhibition of ATPase activity in CF₁ in vitro at low ?_w and high ion concentration mimicked the change in activity seen in vivo.     

Relations between divalent cation binding and ATPase activity in coupling factor from chloroplast.

Although 150 individual samples of milk from Italian water buffalo (Bubalus arnee) were examined by acid and alkaline gel electrophoresis, no polymorphism was observed for α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin. After isolation and purification of these two proteins their amino acid compositions were determined and compared with those of the corresponding bovine proteins. The sequence alignments of 36 and 17 amino-acids from the N-terminal ends and 2 amino-acids from the C-terminal ends of buffalo α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin, respectively, have been established. Our results indicate that buffalo α-lactalbumin differs from its cow B counterpart by a substitution Asn/Gly at position 17 and by another substitution, likely Glu/Gln or Asp/Asn, at an unknown position. Buffalo β-lactoglobulin is homologous to the bovine B variant. Three substitutions differentiate the two proteins: Ile/Leu and Val/Ile at positions 1 and 162 respectively; a further one, Gln/Ile, has not yet been located. According to these results the B variant of bovine β-lactoglobulin might be the wild type of the Bos genus.     

ATP synthesis and hydrolysis in chloroplast membranes. Differential inhibition by antibodies to chloroplast coupling factor 1.

1. Divalent antibodies against chloroplast coupling factor 1 inhibited the factor ATPase, ATP synthesis, hydrolysis and Pi-ATP exchange in chloroplasts. These antibodies also inhibited coupled electron flow rates but not the basal or uncoupled rates. 2. Several types of non-precipitating, modified antibodies prepared from the original antibody preparation strongly inhibited the ATPase and Pi-ATP exchange reaction but had little effect on ATP formation. 3. It is suggested that the inhibition of ATP synthesis by the divalent antibodies is probably due to an indirect blocking of the active site, while the inhibition of ATP-utilizing reactions by the modified antibodies is related to their effect on the transfer of ATP from a non-catalytic to a catalytic site on coupling factor 1, via an energy-dependent conformational change.     

Tentoxin-induced energy-independent adenine nucleotide exchange and ATPase activity with chloroplast coupling factor 1.

1. The effect of energy transfer inhibitors on energy-dependent exchange of tightly bound adenine nucleotides with washed, broken spinach thylakoids has been studied. Energy transfer inhibitors that inhibit the ATPase activity of soluble chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1) (e.g. phloridzin and tentoxin) do not inhibit energy-dependent adenine nucleotide exchange. Energy transfer inhibitors that block proton flux through the hydrophobic protein proton channel (CF0) (e.g. dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and triphenyltin chloride) also block light-dependent adenine nucleotide exchange. 2. Tentoxin, at relatively high concentrations, stimulates an energy-independent exchange of adenosine diphosphate. 3. High concentrations of tentoxin elicit a Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity with soluble CF1, but has no effect on the Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity of membrane-bound CF1. 4. The trypsin-activated, Ca2+-dependent, membrane-bound ATPase is not affected by high concentrations of tentoxin, whereas the dithiothreitol-activated, Mg2+-dependent ATPase is markedly inhibited. 5. The reconstitution of chloroplasts, partially depleted in CF1, with soluble CF1 is correlated with the loss of tentoxin-induced, Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity associated with soluble CF1.     

Detergent activation of the ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1

The activation of the ATPase activity of coupling factor 1 (CF1) from chloroplasts by several detergents was studied. Further evidence that detergent micelles are important in the activation of Ca2+-ATPase was obtained. Maximal activation of CA2+-ATPase was achieved with short-chain alkyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (alkylglucosides) detergents. Treatment of CF1 with hexylglucoside or heptylglucoside followed by hydroxylapatite chromatography caused nearly total removal of the epsilon subunit of the enzyme, whereas treatment with decylglucoside caused less ATPase activation and less loss of the epsilon subunit. The ATPase activity of detergent-activated CF1 was inhibited by purified epsilon subunit. Detergents that form small micelles appear to be most effective in removing the epsilon subunit and in activating the Ca2+-ATPase of CF1. When present during assay, the alkylglucosides also induce a Mg2+-ATPase activity in CF1. Octyl- and nonylglucoside are most effective in promoting this reaction. If, however, CF1 deficient in the epsilon subunit was used, even decylglucoside elicited rapid Mg2+-ATPase hydrolysis. It is concluded that removal of the epsilon subunit, although necessary for the expression of Mg2+-ATPase, is not sufficient. The detergents that cause maximal displacement of the epsilon subunit are less effective in inducing Mg2+-ATPase activity. The selective removal of subunits from CF1 by specific detergents points to potential problems with the use of these detergents in the solubilization of oligomeric membrane proteins.     

Characterization of three-subunit chloroplast coupling factor

The delta- and epsilon-polypeptides were removed from chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF1). The resulting enzyme, CF1(-delta, epsilon), is a stable active ATPase containing only alpha-, beta-, and gamma-polypeptides. The dependence of the steady-state kinetics of ATP hydrolysis catalyzed by CF1(-delta, epsilon) on the concentrations of ATP and ADP was found to be essentially the same as by activated CF1. Nucleotide binding studies with CF1(-delta, epsilon) revealed three binding sites: a nondissociable ADP site (site 1), a tight MgATP binding site (site 2), and a site that binds ADP and ATP with a dissociation constant in the micromolar range (site 3). Similar results have been obtained with CF1. For both CF1 and CF1(-delta, epsilon), the binding of MgATP at site 2 is tight only in the presence of Mg2+. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer was used to map distances between the gamma-sulfhydryl ("dark" site) and gamma-disulfide and between the gamma-sulfhydryl and the three nucleotide sites. These distances are within 5% of the corresponding distances on CF1. These results indicate that removal of the delta- and epsilon-polypeptides from CF1 does not cause significant changes in the structure, kinetics, and nucleotide binding sites of the enzyme.     

Structural mapping of chloroplast coupling factor

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements have been used to investigate the spatial relationships between the nucleotide binding sites and the gamma-subunit of the H+-ATPase from chloroplasts and the orientation of these sites with respect to the membrane surface. Fluorescent maleimides reacted covalently at specific sulfhydryl sites on the gamma-subunit served as energy donors. One sulfhydryl site can be labeled only under energized conditions on the thylakoid membrane surface (light site). The two gamma-sulfhydryls exposed after catalytic activation served as a second donor site (disulfide site). In one set of experiments, the nucleotide analogue 2'(3')-(trinitrophenyl)adenosine triphosphate, selectively bound at each of the three nucleotide binding sites of the solubilized coupling factor, was used as an energy acceptor; in another, octadecylrhodamine with its acyl chain inserted in the vesicle bilayer and the rhodamine fluorophore exposed along the membrane surface was the energy acceptor. The distance between the sulfhydryl and disulfide sites was also obtained by sequentially labeling the sites with coumarin (donor) and fluorescein (acceptor) maleimide derivatives, respectively. The results indicate that all three nucleotide sites are approximately equal to 50 A from the light-labeled gamma-sulfhydryl. Two of the nucleotide sites are very far from the gamma-disulfide (greater than 74 A), while the third site, which binds nucleotides reversibly under all conditions, is 62 A from this sulfhydryl. The light-labeled sulfhydryl and disulfide sites are about 42-47 A apart. Finally, the distance of closest approach between the membrane surface of the reconstituted system and the gamma-disulfide is 31 A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Structural organization of chloroplast coupling factor

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements have been used to construct spatial maps for the accessible sulfhydryl of the gamma subunit (dark site) and the essential tyrosine residue of the beta subunits relative to previously mapped sites on the H+-ATPase from chloroplasts. The extent of energy transfer was measured between a coumarinylmaleimide derivative reacted covalently at the dark site and acceptor species selectively bound at the gamma-disulfide and the three nucleotide binding sites of the solubilized coupling factor complex. The nucleotide energy acceptor was 2'(3')-(trinitrophenyl)adenosine triphosphate, and the gamma-disulfide site was labeled with fluoresceinylmaleimide. The dark-site sulfhydryl also was labeled with pyrenylmaleimide which served as an energy donor for 7-chloro-4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole reacted at the beta-tyrosine sites. Similar measurements were also made with pyrenylmaleimide covalently attached to the gamma-sulfhydryl accessible only under energized conditions on the thylakoid membrane surface (light site). The observed transfer efficiencies indicate that the dark-site sulfhydryl is approximately 45 A from all three nucleotide sites and 41-46 A from the gamma-disulfide site. The average distances separating the essential beta-tyrosines and the light- and dark-site sulfhydryls are 38 and 42 A, respectively. (In calculating these distances, random orientation of the donor-acceptor dipoles was assumed.) The results are consistent with a previously described structural model of the intact enzyme and can be used to gain insight into the overall structural organization or alpha-, beta-, and gamma-polypeptides within the coupling factor.     

Chemical cross-linking studies of chloroplast coupling factor 1.

Cross-linking reagents have been used to link covalently adjacent subunits of solubilized spinach chloroplast coupling factor 1, which is a latent ATPase. 1,5-Difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate, and dimethylsuberimidate are able to form bridges of 3 to 11 A between amino groups, and hydrogen peroxide and the o-phenanthroline-cupric ion complex catalyze the oxidation of intrinsic sulfhydryl groups. The five individual subunit bands (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon) and several new aggregate bands can be separated by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The same four fastest moving aggregate bands, as characterized by their mobilities, migrate more slowly than the heaviest subunit band and appear with all of the cross-linkers employed. The subunit composition of the aggregate bands has been determined through the use of the reversible cross-linkers, dimethyldithiobispropionimidate, (o-phenanthroline)2Cu(II), and H2O2, and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in which aggregates are separated in the first dimension, the disulfide cross-links are cleaved, and the individual subunits present in the aggregates are separated in the second dimension. The subunits are detected by Coomassie brilliant blue staining and by labeling some of the sulfhydryl groups of the gamma and epsilon subunits with radioactive N-ethylmaleimide. The results obtained indicate that the alpha and beta subunits can cross-link directly with each of the other subunits, that two beta subunits are adjacent, and that gamma epsilon, gamma epsilon 2, alpha delta, and beta delta aggregates are present. A minimal subunit stoichiometry consistent with these results is alpha 2 beta 2 gamma delta epsilon 2. A possible structural model of the coupling factor is derived from the data. Similar, but less extensive, experiments have been carried out with the heat-activated coupling factor (which is an ATPase); no differences in the spatial arrangement of subunits are detected from the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of the cross-linked aggregates.     

Membrane-bound coupling factor ATPase activity during light-induced chloroplast development in Euglena gracilis

Dark-grown non-dividing cells of Euglena gracilis Klebs var. bacillaris Cori were exposed to light for up to 72 h and thylakoid membrane fractions were isolated by sedimentation in sucrose step gradients at various stages of development. The membrane-bound coupling factor (CF1)-ATPase activity of these prothylakoids (0 h of light) and developing thylakoid membranes (12 to 72 h of light) was characterized by its cation specificity and sensitivity to inhibitors. The enzyme at all stages of development was activated by Mg2+ and to a lesser extent by Ca2+; Mn2+ was found to activate, as well as or better than Mg2 + at comparable concentrations. The activity of the enzyme was almost completely inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD; 0.3 mM), but was insensitive to oligomycin, valinomycin and carbonyl cyanide P-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP). Low concentrations of NH4CI gave a slight stimulation of enzyme activity, whereas high concentrations of the uncoupler were inhibitory. The specific activity of the membrane-bound CF,-ATPase was highest in prothylakoid membranes. Specific activity decreased on a thylakoid protein or chlorophyll basis during the first 12 h of development, and achieved a steady state level by 48 h following light induction. Estimates of total CF1-ATPase activity per cell indicate that the time for major synthesis of the enzyme is between 12 and 3d h ol development. These results suggest that following an initial lag period in membrane development lasting about 12 h, there is a formation of CF1-ATPase that accompanies further thylakoid membrane development.     

Regulation of coupling factor in field-grown sunflower: A Redox model relating coupling factor activity to the activities of other thioredoxin-dependent chloroplast enzymes

Simultaneous, non-invasive measurements were made of the rate of photosynthetic CO₂ fixation and the state of activation of the chloroplast CF₁CF₀-ATP synthase (CF) in field-grown sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) during the dark-to-light transition at sunrise. CO₂ fixation showed a linear response with light intensity from zero to about 500–700 E m^-2 s^-1. However, at light intensities of only 5–22 E m^-2 s^-1, the energetic threshold for activation of the CF was found to be significantly lowered (as compared to the pre-dawn state), presumably through reduction of the regulatory sulfhdryl groups of the -subunit of the CF. When these studies were extended to chamber-grown plants, it was found that as little as 5 seconds of illumination at 4 E m^-2 s^-1 caused apparently full CF reduction. It is clear, therefore, that the catalytic activation of CF is not rate limiting to the induction of carbon assimilation under field conditions during a natural dark-to-light transition at sunrise. A model, based on the redox properties of the regulatory sulfhydryls, was developed to examine the significance of sulfhydryl midpoint potential in explaining the differences in light sensitivity and oxidation and reduction kinetics, between the CF and other thioredoxin-modulated chloroplast enzymes. Computer simulations of the light-induced regulation of three representative thioredoxin-modulated enzymes are presented.Abbreviations CF chloroplast CF₁-CF₀ ATP synthease or coupling factor - E_a active form of CF - E_a ⁰ active, oxidized form of CF - E_a ^r active, reduced form of CF - E_i inactive form of CF - E_i ⁰ inactive, oxidized form of CF - E_i ^r inactive, reduced form of CF - FBPase fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase - FTR ferredoxin-thioredoxin oxidoreductase - G6PDH glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - MDH NADP-malate dehydrogenase - pmf protonmotive force - pmf_T threshold pmf required to activate CF - pmf_T ⁰ threshold pmf required to active the oxidized form of CF - pmf_T ^r threshold pmf required to activate the reduced form of CF - TR thioredoxin     

Tentoxin-induced binding of adenine nucleotides to soluble spinach chloroplast coupling factor 1.

The effect of tentoxin on the binding of adenine nucleotides to soluble chloroplast coupling factor (CF1) has been studied and the following results have been obtained: 1. Tentoxin (400 micron) increases the maximum attainable tight binding of ADP to CF1. In the absence of tentoxin, the maximal binding observed by the method employed is about 0.3 nmol ADP/mg protein, whereas in the presence of tentoxin this ranges from 1.5 to 2.0 nmol ADP/mg protein. 2. Tentoxin-induced binding of ADP to CF1 is severely inhibited by divalent cations (50% inhibition at about 2 mM) but only weakly inhibited by monovalent cations (less than 50% inhibition at 100 mM). 3. The binding of ADP to CF1 induced by tentoxin is inhibited by ATP and adenylyl imidodiphosphate but is not inhibited by other nucleotides including AMP, GDP, CDP, IDP, or beta, gamma-methylene ATP. 4. The ADP-CF1 complex induced by tentoxin is quite stable. 75% remains bound to CF1 even after passage of the complex through a gel filtration column. An additional 25% can be removed by incubation in the presence of ADP, and all of the bound ADP can be removed only after incubation in the presence of both tentoxin and ADP. The latter result is interpreted as a tentoxin-induced exchange of bound ADP for medium ADP.     

Binding of the chloroplast coupling factor CF to lipid vesicles

The binding of the chloroplast coupling factor CF to lipid vesicles was analyzed by gel filtration. CF can be bound to vesicles made of chloroplast lipids but not of lecithin. The presence in the vesicle walls of a proteolipid subunit of the hydrophobic component of the coupling factor increases the binding of CF. The apparent binding constant and the maximum protein/lipid ratio are calculated. The Ca2+-ATPase activity of bound CF is markedly lower than that of dissolved CF. It is confirmed that the proteolipid is a N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide sensitive proton channel. The binding of CF on proteolipid vesicles decreases their proton permeability.     

Integrated functioning of the chloroplast coupling factor

This review is focused on some functional characteristics of the chloroplast coupling factor. The structure of the enzyme and the putative role of its subunits are recalled. An attempt is made to discriminate the driving force and the activator effects of the electrochemical proton gradient. Respective roles of delta pH, delta phi, external and internal pH are discussed with regard to mechanistic implications. The hypothesis of a functional switch of the enzyme between two states with better efficiency either in ATP synthesis or in ATP hydrolysis is also examined. A brief survey is made on some problems complicating quantitative studies of energy coupling, such as localized chemiosmosis, delta pH and delta phi computations, and scalar ATPases. The main data on the enzyme activation and the energy-dependent release of tightly bound nucleotides are summarized. The arguments for and against the catalytic competence of theses nucleotides are reviewed. Lastly, some prevailing models of the catalytic mechanism are presented. The relevance of nucleotides binding change events in this process is discussed.     

Synergistic activation of an Mg-specific ATPase activity in chloroplast coupling factor by octylglucoside and tentoxin

(1) Octylglucoside stimulates an Mg²⁺-specific ATPase activity with CF₁ preparations from different higher plants and the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii. (2) Tentoxin at high concentrations (10^?4–10^?3 M) in the presence of octylglucoside further stimulates the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity of CF₁ from tentoxin-sensitive species and inhibits the activity of CF₁ from tentoxin-resistant species. The extent of tentoxin stimulation and inhibition varies among species. A maximal stimulation of over 2-fold was obtained with spinach CF₁ and a maximal inhibition of 50% was obtained with C. reinhardii CF₁. In Nicotiana spp., tentoxin had only a marginal effect on the Mg²⁺-ATPase activity induced by octylglucoside.     

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.