Oxidative phosphorylation coupled with nitrate respiration. IV. Replacement of soluble fraction from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacterium avium.

The optimal pH range was from 7.0 to 7.5 in oxidative phosphorylation coupled to nitrate reduction. A cell-free extract of Escherichia coli showed weak myokinase activity. Oxidative phosphorylation coupled to nitrate reduction occurred with fractions of cell-free extracts of Mycobacterium avium. Soluble and particulate fractions separated from the cell-free extract of the organism were necessary for oxidative phosphorylation coupled to nitrate reduction. Each soluble fraction could be replaced by that obtained from another organism, e.g. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Mycobacterium avium. This suggests the existence of coupling factors common to these soluble fractions, and the possibility that the coupling factors are ATPase and components of the ATP-Pi exchange reaction. The P/NO3- ratio depended more on soluble fractions than on particulate fractions. Both phosphorylation and nitrate reduction activity were reduced by washing particulate fractions of Escherichia coli with 0.1 M KCl, while the P/NO3- ratio slightly increased.