Studies on photophosphorylation utilizing methylene diphosphonate analogs of ADP and ATP

Spinach chloroplasts were able to photophosphorylate the ADP analog α,β-methylene adenosine 5′-diphosphate (AOPCP). Phosphorylation of AOPCP was catalyzed by chloroplasts that were washed or dialyzed to remove free endogenous nucleotides. In the presence of glucose, hexokinase, AOPCP and ³²P_i, the ³²P label was incorporated into α,β-methylene adenosine 5′-triphosphate (AOPCPOP).In contrast to photophosphorylation of AOPCP, the ATP analog AOPCPOP was a poor substrate for the ATP-P_i exchange reaction and its hydrolysis was neither stimulated by light and dithiothreitol nor inhibited by Dio-9.Photophosphorylation of AOPCP was inhibited by the α,β- and β,γ-substituted methylene analogs of ATP, while phosphorylation of ADP was unaffected by them. The ATP-P_i exchange was also unaffected by both ATP analogs, while the weak AOPCPOP-P_i exchange was inhibited by the β,γ-methylene analog of ATP.Direct interaction of methylene analogs with the chloroplast coupling factor ATPase was indicated by the enzymatic hydrolysis of AOPCPOP on polyacrylamide gels.