A yeast strain with mutated beta-subunits of mitochondrial ATPase-ATPsynthase: high azide and bicarbonate sensitivity of the ATPase activity

A phenotypic revertant with modified beta-subunits of mitochondrial ATPase-ATP synthase has been obtained for the first time by selection from a beta-less mutant of the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Contrary to the parental mutant, the phenotypic revertant grows on glycerol, has normal respiratory activity and shows immunodetectable beta-subunits. However the kinetic properties of its submitochondrial particles ATPase activity differ markedly from those of the wild strain. The optimal pH is increased by about one unit. The maximal rate of the revertant ATPase activity at pH 8.5 is 4 to 5-fold lower than that of the wild strain, but it can be greatly increased upon addition of bicarbonate whereas the wild strain is completely insensitive to this anion. Furthermore the revertant ATPase activity is much more sensitive to azide inhibition. The results suggest that ADP dissociation is the rate-limiting step of ATP hydrolysis by the revertant.