Determinants of clathrin-coated vesicle acidification.

The proton-translocating ATPase of clathrin-coated vesicles of bovine brain is characterized by ATP specificity. Chloride or bromide serve as co-ions balancing electrogenic proton pumping. ATP-driven proton translocation can be observed in the absence of chloride, provided the membrane potential is collapsed by K+ moving out in the presence of valinomycin. Chloride transport can be observed independent of proton movements in the absence of ATP, provided an inside positive membrane potential is generated by K+ moving from the outside to the inside in the presence of valinomycin.