A coupling factor from sarcoplasmic reticulum required for the translocation of Ca2+ ions in a reconstituted Ca2+ATPase pump.

1. During purification of the Ca2+ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit muscle, different fractions with similar Ca2+ATPase activity were found to vary greatly in their ability to catalyze 45Ca2+ translocation in reconstituted liposomal systems. 2. A heat-stable fraction isolated from the fraction most active in Ca2+ translocation enhanced several-fold the Ca2+ translocation rate of the least active fraction. It also increased the ratio of Ca2+ translocation to ATP hydrolysis over 5-fold. The properties of the coupling factor resemble those of the proteolipid previously described by MacLennan et al. (MACLENNAN, D.H., YIP, C. C., ILES, G. H., and SEAMAN, P. (1972) Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 37, 469-478). 3. When the heat-stable factor was added to either sarcoplasmic reticulum fragments or to liposomes after, rather than before, reconstitution, it acted as an ionophore abolishing Ca2+ translocation.