Cloning and sequencing of a cDNA for the delta-subunit of photosynthetic ATP-synthase (EC 3.6.1.34) from pea (Pisum sativum).

lambda gt10 cDNA clones for the nuclear encoded subunit delta of chloroplast ATP-synthase from Pisum sativum have been isolated. The 5' end was completed by PCR. The sequenced cDNA codes for the import precursor. N-Terminal sequencing of the mature protein isolated from chloroplasts revealed that the processing sites of the transit peptide from Pisum sativum and Spinacea oleracea are similar. The overall homology of the deduced amino acid sequences of the mature delta proteins from higher plants is about 40%. The conservation among hydrophilic residues is higher than for hydrophobic ones, indicating that the surface of delta is important for its function within the ATP-synthase.

Primary structure, deduced from cDNA, secondary structure analysis and conclusions concerning interaction surfaces of the delta subunit of the photosynthetic ATP-synthase (E.C. 3.6.1.34) from millet (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays).

Lambda gt11 cDNA clones for the nuclear-encoded subunit delta of the chloroplast ATP-synthase from Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor were sequenced. The processing site for S. bicolor delta was established, and the sequence of the mature subunit delta from Z. mays was completed by N-terminal sequencing of the proteins isolated from chloroplasts. Only five amino acids are identical and not more than 16% conservatively exchanged in all sequences of delta subunits from higher plants and the corresponding proteins from alga, bacteria and mitochondria (OSCP) available. In binary comparison the comparatively high conservation of hydrophilic residues indicates the importance of the surface of delta. The degree in identities of surface residues correlates with the capacity in hybrid reconstitution of photophosphorylation. A hypothetical secondary structure model for a typical delta subunit can be deduced from prediction algorithms. Three putative amphipathic alpha helices and an antiparallel amphipathic beta sheet seem to be conserved. These common secondary structure features should be significant for the function of the delta subunit of F0F1 ATPases.

Zero-length crosslinking between subunits delta and I of the H(+)-translocating ATPase of chloroplasts.

Treatment of spinach thylakoids with 1-ethyl-3-(dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (sulfo-NHS) induced formation of a zero-length crosslink of an apparent molecular mass of 38 kDa. This product was shown, by immunodetection, to consist of subunit delta of CF1 and subunit I of CF0. The crosslink was isolated by preparative SDS gel electrophoresis and subjected to cyanogen bromide cleavage. Electrophoretic and immunological analysis of the resulting peptides suggested that the crosslink was formed between a glutamyl or aspartyl residue at the C-terminal end of subunit I and a basic amino acid of subunit delta in the range between Val-1 to Met-165. Treatment of thylakoids with EDC/Sulfo-NHS resulted in inhibition of photophosphorylation and CF0CF1-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis without affecting formation of a proton gradient related to phenazine methosulfate-mediated cyclic electron transport. Inhibition of H+ transport-coupled ATP hydrolysis was more pronounced than non-coupled methanol-stimulated ATP hydrolysis. The results suggest that subunits delta and I form a connection between the partial complexes CF1 and CF0 in situ. Crosslinking of the two subunits may impede the translocation of protons through CF0CF1.

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.

Loss of function of biomembranes and solubilization of membrane proteins during freezing.

Isolated thylakoid membranes are damaged during freezing in dilute salt solutions, as shown by the inactivation of photochemical thylakoid reactions. After freezing, a number of membrane proteins were found in the particle-free supernatant. Up to 5% of the total membrane protein was solubilized by freezing, and the pattern of released proteins as seen in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoretograms was influenced by the nature of the solutes present. Membranes protected by sucrose did not release much protein during freezing. Concentrated salt solutions caused protein release also in the absence of freezing. Among the proteins released were ferredoxin--NADP+ reductase, plastocyanin and coupling factor CF1. Subunits of CF1 were found in different proportions in the supernatants of thylakoid suspensions after freezing in the presence of different salts. Cyclic photophosphorylation was largely inactivated before significant protein release could be detected. It is suggested that protein release is the final consequence of the nonspecific suppression of intramembrane ionic interactions by the high ionic strength created in the vicinity of the membranes by the accumulation of salts during slow freezing. Salt effects on water structure and alterations of nonpolar membrane interactions by the incorporation of (protonated) lipophilic anions from organic salts into the membrane phase during freezing may also be involved.

Photoaffinity cross-linking of F1ATPase from spinach chloroplasts by 3'-arylazido-beta-alanyl-8-azido ATP.

UV irradiation of the ATPase (CF1) from spinach chloroplasts in the presence of 3'-arylazido-beta-alanyl-8-azido ATP (8,3'-DiN3ATP) results in a nucleotide-dependent inactivation of the enzyme and in a nucleotide-dependent formation of alpha-beta cross-links. The results demonstrate an interfacial localization of the nucleotide binding sites on CF1.

A 16 kDa protein co-isolating with gap junctions from brain tissue belonging to the class of proteolipids of the vacuolar H+-ATPases.

A 16 kDa protein from an enriched gap junction preparation was isolated from bovine brain tissues. N-terminal amino acid microsequencing of the first 20 amino acids showed a complete homology with a recently published sequence of a proteolipid from a vacuolar H+-ATPase from chromaffin granules. Incubation of the brain gap junction preparation with 14C-N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide showed a significant binding of this compound to the 16 kDa protein, indicating that a proton binding site also occurs within that particular protein. The data suggest that this 16 kDa protein, which has also been described in gap junction preparations from various other tissues, belongs to the proton transporting ATPase.

Localization and orientation of subunit delta of spinach chloroplast ATP-synthase within the CF0CF1 complex. 1. Distinction of shielded and exposed surfaces of delta on the thylakoid membrane.

A new polyclonal antiserum against spinach CF1 subunit delta was produced in rabbits. It decorates only one band at 21 kDa in Western immunoblots of thylakoid proteins and does not react in ELISA with delta-free four subunit CF1(-delta); therefore it is regarded monospecific. The polypeptide used as immunogen had been purified by HPLC. Earlier antisera against CF1 delta cross-react with CF1 subunit beta. The new antiserum 306 contains different antibodies; some can be absorbed with thylakoids, i.e. by delta within the assembled CF0CF1 complex on the membrane, others still react in ELISA with isolated CF1. The former antibodies agglutinate thylakoids and inhibit PMS cyclic photophosphorylation. Therefore we conclude that part of the surface of CF1 subunit delta is exposed within the quaternary structure of the ATP-synthase complex of photosynthetically active thylakoids, but part of the surface of delta is shielded. Trypsination of isolated delta occurs at several sites, but this protease does not attack delta in situ, nor does aminopeptidase. Staphylococcus aureus protease V8 digests CF1 delta after isolation at residues Asp53, Glu61, Glu95 and Glu106, but has no access to these residues of delta in situ. Thus CF1 subunit delta seems to be shielded within the CF0CF1 complex to a large degree. Direct agglutination of thylakoids by anti delta serum 306 was weak and could be improved tenfold by a Coombs serum (goat anti rabbit gammaglobulin), whereas an anti beta serum agglutinated directly. From this we conclude that delta is not accessible at the top of the enzyme; the exposed part is extending below the large subunits alpha and beta and oriented towards the membrane.

Localization and orientation of subunit delta of spinach chloroplast ATP-synthase within the CF0 CF1 complex. 2. Identification of C-terminal residues of delta, exposed on the thylakoid membrane.

The amino acid residues of spinach CF1 subunit delta are identified which are accessible and thus exposed within the quaternary structure of the ATP-synthase complex on the thylakoid membrane. Two types of antibodies in the monospecific polyclonal antiserum 306 against CF1 delta, described in the previous publication [Z. Naturforsch. 44c, 153-160 (1989)], were separated by virtue of their different affinity to thylakoid membranes and used for specific analysis of the products of proteolytic digestion of delta in situ. Polypeptide delta in situ, i.e. within the CF0 CF1 complex on the membrane, is not susceptible to digestion by aminopeptidase M and trypsin, but is shortened by about 1 kDa by carboxypeptidase Y and digested at residues Glu173 and Glu179 by the Staphylococcus aureus protease V8. The epitope on delta reacting with the agglutinating antibodies from serum 306 is lost after these proteolytical treatments and therefore situated on residues Met180-Val187. Since trypsin destroys this epitope only after prolonged incubation and with at least 50 micrograms trypsin/mg Chl, residue Lys169 of delta probably is inaccessible in situ. We conclude that the C-terminal amphipathic alpha-helix of spinach CF1 subunit delta is exposed on the thylakoid membrane, with the hydrophilic face directed to the outside, and that CF1 delta starts to be shielded within the quaternary structure of the CF0 CF1 complex between Glu173 and Lys169. The hydrophobic face of the c-terminal helix may be part of the binding surface towards CF0. Antibodies from serum 306 inhibit the PMS mediated cyclic photophosphorylation by reacting with C-terminal residues of delta.

Subunit II (b') and not subunit I (b) of photosynthetic ATP synthases is equivalent to subunit b of the ATP synthases from nonphotosynthetic eubacteria. Evidence for a new assignment of b-type F0 subunits.

Subunit I of chloroplast ATP synthase is reviewed until now to be equivalent to subunit b of Escherichia coli ATP synthase, whereas subunit II is suggested to be an additional subunit in photosynthetic ATP synthases lacking a counterpart in E. coli. After publication of some sequences of subunits II a revision of this assignment is necessary. Based on the analysis of 51 amino acid sequences of b-type subunits concerning similarities in primary structure, isoelectric point and a discovered discontinuous structural feature, our data provide evidence that chloroplast subunit II (subunit b' of photosynthetic eubacteria) and not chloroplast subunit I (subunit b of photosynthetic eubacteria) is the equivalent of subunit b of nonphotosynthetic eubacteria, and therefore does have a counterpart in e.g. E. coli. In consequence, structural features essential for function should be looked for on subunit II (b').

Heterologous overexpression of membrane-anchored subunit II of spinach chloroplast ATP synthase and its detergent-free purification as a soluble protein.

Subunit II is one of the four nonidentical subunits of the membrane integral, proton-transporting moiety (CFo) of the chloroplast ATP synthase. In chloroplasts of spinach leaves, it is the only nuclear-encoded CFo subunit. It has been deduced that CFoII is not an additional subunit typical for photosynthetic organisms with no counterpart in E. coli, but equivalent to E. coli subunit b (Tiburzy, H.-J. and Berzborn, R. J. (1997), Z. Naturforsch. 52c, 789-798). Heterologous expression of subunit II was achieved by using the bacterial expression vector pT7-7. Recombinant subunit II (IIrec) does not integrate into the bacterial membrane nor does it precipitate into inclusion bodies. Gel filtration chromatography indicates that IIrec forms higher order aggregates. In three chromatographic steps approx. 10 mg of soluble IIrec of electrophoretic homogeneity are obtained from one liter of bacterial culture without using detergents. Thus, a eukaryotic membrane-anchored protein has been overexpressed in E. coli and has been purified in a soluble form.

The "additional subunit" CF0II of the photosynthetic ATP-synthase and the thylakoid polypeptide, binding ferredoxin NADP reductase: are they different?

Evidence is presented to support the notion that the 16 kDa thylakoid polypeptide, called CF0II, is an essential subunit of the photosynthetic ATP-synthase complex CF0CF1: It is co-isolated with the other subunits of CF0CF1 in preparations either using octylglucoside/cholate or Triton X-100. It is co-precipitated by antibodies together with the other CF0CF1 subunits. It is immunochemically not related to thylakoid polypeptides of higher molecular weight nor to some thylakoid polypeptides with similar apparent molecular weight between 16 and 18 kDa: CF1 epsilon, CF0I, subunit IV of the b6f complex, the 16.5 kDa peripheral polypeptide of the oxygen evolving complex of PS II, and the intrinsic ferredoxin NADP reductase binding protein. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of CF0II and the reductase binding protein is determined by Edman degradation and compared: The two sequences are different and not identical to other characterized thylakoid polypeptides. Monospecific antibodies against CF0II inhibit rebinding of CF1 to EDTA treated thylakoid membranes, H+ efflux from EDTA treated membranes and cyclic photophosphorylation. Thus the additional polypeptide CF0II qualifies for a functional subunit of the photosynthetic ATP-synthase.