Steady-state ATP synthesis by bacteriorhodopsin and chloroplast coupling factor co-reconstituted into asolectin vesicles.

A method was developed for the co-reconstitution of bacteriorhodopsin and chloroplast coupling factor in asolectin vesicles. First, bacteriorhodopsin was reconstituted from a mixture of octyl glucoside, asolectin, and protein in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid by passage through a Sephadex G-50 centrifuge column. Then, the purified coupling factor was reconstituted from a mixture of sodium cholate, bacteriorhodopsin vesicles, and coupling factor in the presence of Mg2+ by passage through the centrifuge column. Sucrose density-gradient centrifugation indicated a band of vesicles with slightly different positions in the gradient for maximum vesicle concentration, bacteriorhodopsin vesicle concentration, ATP synthesis, and ATP hydrolysis. The rate of light-driven ATP synthesis reaches a limiting value as the concentration of bacteriorhodopsin and the light intensity are increased. A steady-state rate of ATP synthesis of 1 mumol per mg of coupling factor X min-1 has been achieved. Apparently this rate is limited by the heterogeneity within the vesicle population and by the ability of bacteriorhodopsin to form a sufficiently large pH gradient.