[Proton translocation coefficient for H+-ATPase of rat liver mitochondria].

Some features of H+-ATPase function in intact mitochondria of rat liver were studied. Simultaneously the activities of ATPase and proton translocase were measured, using a previously described technique. The proton translocation coefficient of H+-ATPase has been found to be equal to 3.6. The protonophore 3.5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile diminishes the proton translocation coefficient. It was concluded that when considering the mechanism of proton translocation by H+-ATPase, it is necessary to assume the possibility of transport of 3 or 4 protons per every hydrolyzed molecule of ATP allowing a changeable efficiency of the process. The decrease of the translocase coefficient in the presence of the protonophore appears to result from the ability of this uncoupler to return the transferred protons to the mitochondrial matrix.