Conversion of coupling factor 1 of Rhodospirillum rubrum from a Ca2+-ATPase into a Mg2+-ATPase.

Isolation of F1-ATPase from Rhodospirillum rubrum by chloroform extraction of chromatophores, followed by purification on a glycerol gradient, results in a very pure enzyme preparation containing five subunits with high Ca2+-ATPase activity (15 mumol per min per mg protein). Furthermore, conditions are reported under which the purified F1 exhibits Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity of about 35 mumol per min per mg protein. NaHCO3 stimulates the Mg2+-activity from 1.5 mumol per min per mg protein to 5 mumol per min per mg protein giving a maximal activity at a concentration of about 60 mM NaHCO3. Lauryl dimethylamine oxide (LDAO), octyl glucoside and nonanoyl N-methylglucamide enhance the Mg2+-ATPase activity from 1.5 to 14, 22 and 35 mumol per min per mg protein, respectively, in the absence of NaHCO3, and from 5 to 34, 30 and 37 mumol per min per mg protein, respectively, in the presence of 50 mM NaHCO3. The Vmax is increased, but the Km for ATP remains the same, about 0.22 mM, both in the absence of activators and in the presence of NaHCO3, LDAO or NaHCO3 plus LDAO. Ca2+-dependent ATPase activity is slightly stimulated by NaHCO3 but strongly inhibited by octyl glucoside.