A pyrophosphate synthase gene: molecular cloning and sequencing of the cDNA encoding the inorganic pyrophosphate synthase from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

The integrally membrane-bound, proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) synthase in phototrophic bacteria is hitherto the only described alternative to the ATP synthase in biological electron transport phosphorylation. We have identified and sequenced the first gene coding for a pyrophosphate synthase. The deduced protein contains 660 amino acid residues and 15 putative membrane-spanning segments. It is homologous to the vacuolar pyrophosphatases from plants.

Comparison of the contribution from different energy-linked reactions to the function of a membrane potential in photosynthetic bacteria.

The steady-state membrane potentials generated by light, PP(i), ATP or the reverse transhydrogenase reaction were studied in chromatophores from two different phototrophic bacteria, Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas viridis. The membrane potentials generated by the different energy-linked reactions were evaluated by a tetraphenylboron(TPB(-)) ion-selective electrode. The generated by light was estimated to be 110 mV and 50 mV in R. rubrum and Rps. viridis chromatophores, respectively. In the dark, PP (i), ATP and reversed transhydrogenase generated membrane potentials in R. rubrum and Rps. viridis chromatophores 50, 60 and 35 mV, and 14, 35 and 25 mV,respectively. The effect of magnesium ion on the membrane potential generated by different energy-linked reactions was also studied. The induced by different energy-generating reactions in R. rubrum and Rps. viridis chromatophores and the possible relationship to the chromatophore structures are discussed.

Studies on photosynthetic inorganic pyrophosphate formation in Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores.

Photosynthetic formation of inorganic pyrophosphate (PP(i)) in Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores has been studied utilizing a new and sensitive method for continuous monitoring of PP(i) synthesis. Studies of the reaction kinetics under a variety of conditions, e.g., at different substrate concentrations and different electron-transport rates, have been performed. At very low light intensities the rate of PP(i) synthesis is twice the rate of ATP synthesis. Antimycin A, at a concentration which strongly inhibited the photosynthetic ATP formation, inhibited the PP(i) synthesis much less. Even at low rates of electron transport a significant rate of PP(i) synthesis is obtained. The rate of photosynthetic ATP formation is stimulated up to 20% when PPI synthesis is inhibited. It is shown that PP(i) synthesis and ATP synthesis compete with each other. No inhibition of pyrophosphatase activity is observed at high carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyhydrazone concentration while ATPase activity is strongly inhibited under the same conditions.

Immunological and fluorescence studies with the coupling factor ATPase from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

1. Purification of the coupling factor ATPase from Rhodospirillum rubrum has been achieved by a combination of a previously described procedure with chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A50. 2. Identification of the coupling factor ATPase during purification, and estimation of the relative amount of the enzyme in each fraction was greatly simplified by utilization of its unusual fluorescence. 3. Preparations of R. rubrum coupling factor ATPase injected into rabbits yielded antisera which were suitable for following the course of purification. 4. Judged by immunoelectrophoretic analysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the final preparation was pure. Under standardized conditions, apparently pure preparations showed fluorescence ratios at 300/350 nm of 3-6, which are considerably higher than those reported for pure CF1 from chloroplasts. 5. The enzyme lost its activity and changed its immunological identity during prolonged storage and by treatment with urea. Antisera against urea-treated enzyme showed the presence of two distinct antigens in the modified preparations.

Diethylstilbestrol is a potent inhibitor of the H (+) (-)PPase but not of the H (+) (-)ATPase of Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores.

In RhodospiriUum rubrum chromatophores, diethylsrilbestrol inhibits the photoinduced synthesis of ATP and PPi by the membrane-bound H +-ATPase and H +-PPase, respectively. 50% inhibition of ATP synthesis is obtained at 8 µM diethylsrilbestroi in the presence of 0.13 µM BChi, while Is0 for the PPi formation is 20 µM diethylstilhestrol at the same chromatophore concentration. Diethylstilbestroi also inhibits the hydrolyricactivity of the H +-PPase, both in the membrane-bound and in the solubilized and purified state.Inhibition to 50% is already attained at 3 µM diethyistilbestrol in chromatopbores when 1 µM FCCP ispresent and the BChl-concentrarion is 0.62 µM. The hydrolysis by the solubilized enzyme has an /50 of 5 µM when 5 µg protein/ml is used. In contrast to the PPi-hydrolysis, the ATPase activity of thechromatophores shows a small activation at low diethylstiihestroi concentration and becomes inhibited at higher concentrations. Also, solubilized FoFI-ATPase is activated to a small extent by diethyisrilbestrol at the concentrations tested. At low concentrations of BChl, the inhibitory action of diethyistilhestrol on ATP and PPI synthesis can be reversed by addition of bovine serum albumin. The time dependence and inhibition dependence on the energy state of the membrane and on the BChl concentration are examined for the ATP synthesis. The mechanism of inhibition by diethylsrilbestrol is discussed.

A 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase gene in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum.

A 1.2 kb long DNA segment from Rhodospirillum rubrum has been sequenced (EMBL/GenBank accession number: U41280). This DNA segment includes the first sequenced gene for a putative 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) lyase, termed hmgL, from a photosynthetic organism. The sequenced segment also contains a ribosome-binding site and two clusters of possible-35 and -10 promotor sequences preceding the hmgL gene. Translation of the gene would yield a 303 amino-acid-long protein with a calculated molecular weight of 31.1 kDa. This protein shows 55-60% identity and approx. 75% similarity, including conservative substitutions, with the three eukaryotic and the single prokaryotic HMG-CoA lyases which previously have been sequenced. The R. rubrum enzyme showed stronger homology to the chicken HMG-CoA lyase than to the other bacterial protein. Significant sequence similarity was also found with homocitrate synthases from nitrogen-fixing prokaryotes. In contrast to the other sequenced prokaryotic HMG-CoA lyase (from Pseudomonas mevalonii), the R. rubrum hmgL does not seem to appear in an operon together with a HMG-CoA reductase. The hmgL gene was transcribed in photosynthetically grown cells as judged by amplification of cDNAs synthesised from DNA-free total RNA. In addition, HMG-CoA lyase activity was found in R. rubrum cells grown anaerobically in the light with leucine as the carbon source.

Inorganic pyrophosphate-driven ATP-synthesis in liposomes containing membrane-bound inorganic pyrophosphatase and F0-F1 complex from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

PPi driven ATP synthesis has been reconstituted in a liposomal system containing the membrane-bound energy-linked PPiase and coupling factor complex, both highly purified from Rhodospirillum rubrum. This energy converting model system was made by mixing both enzyme preparations with an aqueous suspension of sonicated soybean phospholipids and subjecting to a freeze-thaw procedure. In the presence of ADP, Mg2+, Pi and PPi the system catalyzed phosphorylation by up to 25 nmol ATP formed X mg protein-1 X min-1, at 20 degrees C, which was sensitive to uncouplers and inhibitors of phosphorylation such as oligomycin, efrapeptin and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide.

H+ -PPases: a tightly membrane-bound family.

The earliest known H+-PPase (proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatase), the integrally membrane-bound H+-PPi synthase (proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphate synthase) from Rhodospirillum rubrum, is still the only alternative to H+-ATP synthase in biological electron transport phosphorylation. Cloning of several higher plant vacuolar H+-PPase genes has led to the recognition that the corresponding proteins form a family of extremely similar proton-pumping enzymes. The bacterial H+-PPi synthase and two algal vacuolar H+-PPases are homologous with this family, as deduced from their cloned genes. The prokaryotic and algal homologues differ more than the H+-PPases from higher plants, facilitating recognition of functionally significant entities. Primary structures of H+-PPases are reviewed and compared with H+-ATPases and soluble PPases.

H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatase: a tightly membrane-bound family.

The earliest known H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatase, the integrally membrane-bound H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphate synthase from Rhodospirillum rubrum, is still the only alternative to H+-ATP synthase in biological electron transport phosphorylation. Cloning of several higher plant vacuolar H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatase genes has led to the recognition that the corresponding proteins form a family of extremely similar proton-pumping enzymes. The bacterial H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphate synthase and two algal vacuolar H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatases are homologous with this family, as deduced from their cloned genes. The prokaryotic and algal homologues differ more than the H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatases from higher plants, facilitating recognition of functionally significant entities. Primary structures of H+-proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatases are reviewed and compared with H+-ATPases and soluble proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatases.

Synthesis of pyrophosphate coupled to the reverse energy-linked transhydrogenase reaction in Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores.

Chromatophores from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum contain a membrane-bound transhydrogenase catalyzing the transfer of a hydride ion between NADH and NADP⁺. The reverse reaction, i.e. reduction of NAD⁺ by NADPH, can furnish sufficient energy (ΔµH⁺) to drive the phosphorylation of inorganic orthophosphate (P(i)) to pyrophosphate (PP(i)). The rate of PP(i), synthesis is 50 nmol PP(i) formed/min per µmol Bchl which is 5% of the rate of light-induced PP(i), synthesis. PP(i), synthesis is inhibited by both the H+-PPase inhibitor fluoride and the specific transhydrogenase inhibitor palmitoyl-CoA. The effects of both DCCD and uncouplers on the system provide additional evidence that the ΔµH⁺ generated by the reverse transhydrogenase reaction drives PP(i), synthesis. The rate of PP(i), synthesis can be partially inhibited by the addition of NADP⁺, a substrate of the forward energy-consuming reaction. The ΔµH⁺ generated can also be used to drive ATP synthesis by the H⁺-ATPase, but at a lower rate than the PP(i), synthesis.

Alternative photophosphorylation, inorganic pyrophosphate synthase and inorganic pyrophosphate.

This minireview in memory of Daniel I. Arnon, pioneer in photosynthesis research, concerns properties of the first and still only known alternative photophosphorylation system, with respect to the primary phosphorylated end product formed. The alternative to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), was produced in light, in chromatophores from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum, when no adenosine diphosphate (ADP) had been added to the reaction mixture (Baltscheffsky H et al. (1966) Science 153: 1120-1122). This production of PPi and its capability to drive energy requiring reactions depend on the activity of a membrane bound inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) (Baltscheffsky M et al. (1966) Brookhaven Symposia in Biology, No. 19, pp 246-253); (Baltscheffsky M (1967) Nature 216: 241-243), which pumps protons (Moyle J et al. (1972) FEBS Lett 23: 233-236). Both enzyme and substrate in the PPase (PPi synthase) are much less complex than in the case of the corresponding adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase, ATP synthase). Whereas an artificially induced proton gradient alone can drive the synthesis of PPi, both a proton gradient and a membrane potential are required for obtaining ATP. The photobacterial, integrally membrane bound PPi synthase shows immunological cross reaction with membrane bound PPases from plant vacuoles (Nore BF et al. (1991) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 181: 962-967). With antibodies against the purified PPi synthase clones of its gene have been obtained and are currently being sequenced. Further structural information about the PPi synthase may serve to elucidate also fundamental mechanisms of electron transport coupled phosphorylation. The existence of the PPi synthase is in line with the assumption that PPi may have preceded ATP as energy carrier between energy yielding and energy requiring reactions.

Diethylstilbestrol. Interactions with membranes and proteins and the different effects upon Ca2+- and Mg2+-dependent activities of the F1-ATPase from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

The hydrophobic compound diethylstilbestrol inhibits the generation of the proton gradient and the membrane potential in chromatophores from Rhodospirillum rubum and dissipates proton gradients over asolectin vesicle membranes. The Ca2+-ATPase activity of chromatophores, of purified F0F1-ATPase and of purified F1-ATPase is also decreased in the presence of diethylstilbestrol. Other repressed activities are the pyrophosphatase activity of soluble pyrophosphatase from yeast and the NADH oxidation by L-lactate:NAD oxidoreductase. We have previously reported that also ATP synthesis, PPi synthesis and PPi hydrolysis of R. rubrum chromatophores are inhibited by diethylstilbestrol [Strid et al. (1987) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 892, 236-244]. Addition of bovine serum albumin reverses or prevents diethylstilbestrol-induced inhibition of the activities tested. On the other hand, the Mg2+-ATPase activity of chromatophores, purified F0F1-ATPase and purified F1-ATPase are stimulated by low concentrations of diethylstilbestrol. On the basis of its hydrophobicity and the reversal of its inhibition by bovine serum albumin, diethylstilbestrol is proposed to act unspecifically on membranes and at hydrophobic domains of proteins. Such an attack upon the subunits of the F1-ATPase, altering the subunit interactions, is proposed to explain the different results obtained for the Ca2+-ATPase and the Mg2+-ATPase.

Some characteristics of cyclic photophosphorylation in maize bundle sheath chloroplasts.

PMS-dependent photophosphorylation in bundle sheath chloroplasts isolated from Zea mays was monitored by using a continuous method. Carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) and venturicidin were shown to inhibit the ATP-synthesis. Venturicidin has been shown to inhibit ATP-formation in both mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts. In contrast to the case in mesophyll chloroplasts, FMN was not able to promote photophosphorylation in bundle sheath chloroplasts. The effects of other cofactors and inhibitors on the ATP-synthesis in bundle sheath chloroplasts are shown. No photoinduced synthesis of inorganic pyrophosphate was seen, neither in bundle sheath chloroplasts, nor in mesophyll chloroplasts.

Immunological cross-reactivity between proton-pumping inorganic pyrophosphatases of widely phylogenic separated species.

Immunological cross-reactivity among three types of inorganic pyrophosphatases, that is, the proton pumping inorganic pyrophosphate synthase (H(+)-PPi synthase) and the soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase, both from Rhodospirillum rubrum, and the vacuolar membrane inorganic pyrophosphatase (H(+)-PPase) from mung bean (Vigna radiata), were examined by means of immunoblot analyses. Antibodies raised against the mung bean H(+)-PPase cross-reacted with the H(+)-PPi synthase from R. rubrum but not with the soluble PPase from R. rubrum. N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), which inhibits both synthesis and hydrolysis of PPi catalysed by purified and chromatophore H(+)-PPi synthase, binds to the enzyme as shown by fluorography of [14C]DCCD labelling. These results suggest that the R. rubrum H(+)-PPase share close structural similarities with the vacuolar H(+)-PPase from Mung bean.

Inorganic-pyrophosphate-dependent phosphorylation of spinach thylakoid proteins.

It has been shown for the first time that several photosystem-II thylakoid proteins and the main chlorophyll-a/b light-harvesting complex can be phosphorylated with inorganic pyrophosphate as phosphate donor. With pyrophosphate, as with ATP, the protein-kinase reaction is dependent on light or a strong reducing agent. The reaction which can be demonstrated in well-washed spinach thylakoids is dependent on electron transport and is controlled by the redox state of the plastoquinone pool. It is suggested that the pyrophosphate-dependent thylakoid protein phosphorylation is mediated by the same kinase which is responsible for the ATP-dependent protein phosphorylation. This pyrophosphate-dependent kinase activity may be derived from an evolutionary precursor from which ATP-dependent protein phosphorylation also developed.