Essential role of an arginyl residue at the catalytic site(s) of chloroplast coupling factor

Functional arginine residues and carboxyl groups in the adenosine triphosphatase of the thermophilic bacterium PS-3

Treatment of purified ATPase of the thermophilic bacterium PS-3 with the arginine reagent phenylglyoxal or with Woodward's reagent K, gave complete inactivation of the enzyme. The inactivation rates followed apparent first-order kinetics. The apparent order of reaction with respect to inhibitor concentrations gave values near to 1 with both reagents, suggesting that inactivation was a consequence of modifying one arginine or carboxyl group per active site. ADP and ATP strongly protected the thermophilic ATPase against both reagents. GDP and IDP protected less, whilst CTP did not protect. Experiments in which the incorporation of [14C]phenylglyoxal into the enzyme was measured show that extrapolation of incorporation to 100% inactivation of the enzyme gives 8-9 mol [14C]phenylglyoxal per mol ATPase, whilst ADP or ATP prevent modification of about one arginine per mol.

Quercetin interaction with the chloroplast ATPase complex

1. Quercetin, a flavonoid which acts as an energy transfer inhibitor in photophosphorylation is shown to inhibit the P-ATP exchange activity of membrane-bound CF1 and the ATPase activity of isolated CF1. Quercetin, affects also the proton uptake in chloroplasts in a manner similar to that of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. 2. The light-dependent proton uptake in EDTA-treated chloroplasts is stimulated by quercetin. In untreated chloroplasts quercetin has a dual effect: it enhances at pH above 7.5 while at lower pH values it decreases the extent of H+ uptake. Similar effects were obtained with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. 3. Like quercetin, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was also found to inhibit the ATPase activity of isolated CF1. 4. Quercetin inhibits uncoupled electron transport induced by either EDTA-treatment of chloroplasts or by addition of uncouplers. Quercetin restores H+ uptake in both types of uncoupled chloroplasts. 5. The mode of action of quercetin and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in photophosphorylation is discussed, and interaction with both CF1 and F0 is suggested.