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The electrogenic transport of ATP and ADP by the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier (AAC) was investigated by recording transient currents with two different techniques for performing concentration jump experiments: 1) the fast fluid injection method: AAC-containing proteoliposomes were adsorbed to a solid supported membrane (SSM), and the carrier was activated via ATP or ADP concentration jumps. 2) BLM (black lipid membrane) technique: proteoliposomes were adsorbed to a planar lipid bilayer, while the carrier was activated via the photolysis of caged ATP or caged ADP with a UV laser pulse. Two transport modes of the AAC were investigated, ATPex-0in and ADPex-0in. Liposomes not loaded with nucleotides allowed half-cycles of the ADP/ATP exchange to be studied. Under these conditions the AAC transports ADP and ATP electrogenically. Mg2+ inhibits the nucleotide transport, and the specific inhibitors carboxyatractylate (CAT) and bongkrekate (BKA) prevent the binding of the substrate. The evaluation of the transient currents yielded rate constants of 160s−1 for ATP and ≥400s−1 for ADP translocation. The function of the carrier is approximately symmetrical, i.e., the kinetic properties are similar in the inside-out and right-side-out orientations. The assumption from previous investigations, that the deprotonated nucleotides are exclusively transported by the AAC, is supported by further experimental evidence. In addition, caged ATP and caged ADP bind to the carrier with similar affinities as the free nucleotides. An inhibitory effect of anions (200–300mM) was observed, which can be explained as a competitive effect at the binding site. The results are summarized in a transport model.

The effect of a single site mutation of Arg-54 to methionine in Paracoccus denitrificans cytochrome c oxidase was studied using a combination of optical spectroscopy, electrochemical and rapid kinetics techniques, and time-resolved measurements of electrical membrane potential. The mutation resulted in a blue-shift of the heme a alpha-band by 15 nm and partial occupation of the low-spin heme site by heme O. Additionally, there was a marked decrease in the midpoint potential of the low-spin heme, resulting in slow reduction of this heme species. A stopped-flow investigation of the reaction with ferrocytochrome c yielded a kinetic difference spectrum resembling that of heme a(3). This observation, and the absence of transient absorbance changes at the corresponding wavelength of the low-spin heme, suggests that, in the mutant enzyme, electron transfer from Cu(A) to the binuclear center may not occur via heme a but that instead direct electron transfer to the high-spin heme is the dominating process. This was supported by charge translocation measurements where Deltapsi generation was completely inhibited in the presence of KCN. Our results thus provide an example for how the interplay between protein and cofactors can modulate the functional properties of the enzyme complex.

A spectroscopic and functional analysis of two point‐mutated bacteriorhodopsins (BRs) from phototrophic negative halobacterial strains is reported. Bacteriorhodopsin from strain 384 contains a glutamic acid instead of an aspartic acid at position 85 and BR from strain 326 contains asparagine instead of aspartic acid at position 96. Compared to wild‐type BR, the M formation in BR Asp85–‐Glu is accwelerated approximately 10‐fold, whereas the M decay in BR Asp96–‐Asn is slowed down approximately 50‐fold at pH6. Purple membrane sheets containing the mutated BRs were oriented and immobilized in polyacrylamide gels or adsorbed to planar lipid films. The measured kinetics of the photocurrents under various conditions agree with the observed photocycle kinetics. The ineffectivity of BR Asp85–‐Glu resides in the dominance of an inactive species absorbing maximally at approximately 610 nm, while BR Asp96–‐Asn is ineffective due to its slow photocycle. These experimental results suggest that aspartic acid 96 plays a crucial role for the reprotonation of the Schiff base. Both residues are essential for an effective proton pump.

The transport activity of purified Na+K+‐ATPase was investigated by measuring the electrical pump current induced on black lipid membranes. Discs containing purified Na+K+‐ATPase from pig kidney were attached to planar lipid bilayers in a sandwich‐like structure. After the addition of only microM concentrations of an inactive photolabile ATP derivative [P3‐1‐(2‐nitro)phenylethyladenosine 5′‐triphosphate, caged ATP] ATP was released after illumination with u.v.‐light, which led to a transient current in the system. The transient photoresponse indicates that the discs and the underlying membrane are capacitatively coupled. Stationary pump currents were obtained after the addition of the H+, Na+ exchanging agent monensin together with valinomycin to the membrane system, which increased the permeability of the black lipid membrane for the pumped ions. In the absence of ADP and Pi the half saturation for the maximal photoeffect was obtained at 6.5 microM released ATP. The addition of ADP decreased the pump activity. Pump activity was obtained only in the presence of Mg2+ together with Na+ and Na+ and K+. No pump current was obtained in the presence of Mg2+ together with K+. The electrical response was blocked completely by the Na+K+‐ATPase‐specific inhibitors vanadate and ouabain. No pump currents were observed with a chemically modified protein, which was labelled on the ATP binding site with fluoresceine isothiocyanate. The method described offers the possibility of investigating by direct electrical measurements ion transport of Na+K+‐ATPase with a large variety of different parameters.

The light activated absorbance changes and photo-electric events of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) were simultaneously measured. The results were compared with the kinetics of the time resolved infrared signals which are characteristic for protonation changes of Asp residues, chromophore vibrations, and amide I vibrations. Each data set was analyzed separately. Assuming first order reactions the experimental curves in the time range from L back to bR could be fitted by a sum of five exponentials. However, for the photocurrent signal only four exponentials were necessary. The corresponding half-life times were of the same order of magnitude. Simultaneous fits of the traces from absorption changes in the visible range and the photocurrent signal provided evidence that the photocurrent data could also be described by the same sum of exponentials as the data obtained in the visible range. The rate constants obtained from the different methods applied were, within the limits of error, identical. These results demonstrate that retinal monitors not only charge displacements but also conformational movements of the protein moiety. The reprotonation of the Schiff base occurs synchronously with a protonation change of an internal aspartic acid which absorbs at 1755 cm-1. From the IR-signals, amplitude spectra could be derived which provided evidence that Asp-residues absorbing at 1765 cm-1 (Asp85) and 1755 cm-1 are still protonated in the O-intermediate. Major conformational changes of the peptide back bone occur in the time range of the L ? M transition and with opposite sign during the decay of the O-intermediate.

In the preceding publication (Pintschovius and Fendler, 1999. Biophys. J. 76:000–000) a new technique was described that was able to produce concentration jumps of arbitrary ion species at the surface of a solid supported membrane (SSM). This technique can be used to investigate the kinetics of ion translocating proteins adsorbed to the SSM. Charge translocation of the Na+/K+-ATPase in the presence of ATP was investigated. Here we describe experiments carried out with membrane fragments containing Na+/K+-ATPase from pig kidney and in the absence of ATP. Electrical currents are measured after rapid addition of Na+. We demonstrate that these currents can be explained only by a cation binding process on the cytoplasmic side, most probably to the cytoplasmic cation binding site of the Na+/K+-ATPase. An electrogenic reaction of the protein was observed only with Na+, but not with other monovalent cations (K+, Li+, Rb+, Cs+). Using Na+ activation of the enzyme after preincubation with K+ we also investigated the K+-dependent half-cycle of the Na+/K+-ATPase. A rate constant for K+ translocation in the absence of ATP of 0.2–0.3s−1 was determined. In addition, these experiments show that K+ deocclusion, and cytoplasmic K+ release are electroneutral.

Adsorption of Na+/K+-ATPase containing membrane fragments from pig kidney to lipid membranes allows the detection of electrogenic events during the Na+/K+-ATPase reaction cycle with high sensitivity and time resolution. High stability preparations can be obtained using solid supported membranes (SSM) as carrier electrodes for the membrane fragments. The SSMs are prepared using an alkanethiol monolayer covalently linked to a gold surface on a glass substrate. The hydrophobic surface is covered with a lipid monolayer (SAM, self-assembled monolayer) to obtain a double layer system having electrical properties similar to those of unsupported bilayer membranes (BLM). As we have previously shown (Seifert et al., 1993, Biophys. J. 64:384–391), the Na+/K+-ATPase on a SSM can be activated by photolytic release of ATP from caged ATP. In this publication we show the first results of a new technique which allows rapid solution exchange at the membrane surface making use of the high mechanical stability of SSM preparations. Especially for substrates, which are not available as a caged substance—such as Na+ and K+—this technique is shown to be capable of yielding new results. The Na+/K+-ATPase was activated by rapid concentration jumps of ATP and Na+ (in the presence of ATP). A time resolution of up to 10ms was obtained in these experiments. The aim of this paper is to present the new technique together with the first results obtained from the investigation of the Na+/K+-ATPase. A comparison with data taken from the literature shows considerable agreement with our experiments.

Bacterioopsin (bO) from Halobacterium salinarium ("Halobacterium halobium") has been functionally expressed in a heterologous system, the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Regeneration of bO to bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in S. pombe has been achieved in vivo by addition of the chromophore retinal to the culture medium, as shown for a retinal-negative mutant of H. salinarium (JW5). Western blot analysis revealed that bR is more stable than bO against proteolysis in fission yeast and also in JW5. The light-driven proton pump is expressed in the eukaryotic organism and incorporated into the plasma membrane. Illumination of intact yeast cells leads to acidification of the external medium due to the translocation of H+ from inside to outside of the cell, indicating the same orientation of bR in the yeast plasma membrane as in H. salinarium. The kinetics of proton release into the water phase was observed with the optical pH indicator pyranine. Time-resolved absorbance changes of isolated plasma membrane measured by flash spectroscopy showed rise and decay of the M intermediate during the photocycle similar to those in the homologous system. Photocurrents and photovoltages were recorded with yeast plasma membrane attached to a planar lipid membrane and to a polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) film, respectively. Stationary currents measured in the presence of a protonophore showed continuous pumping activity of bR. The action spectrum of the photocurrent and the kinetics of the photovoltage were analyzed and compared with signals obtained from purple membranes. From all these different investigations we conclude that the integral membrane protein bR is correctly folded in vivo into the cytoplasmic membrane of the fission yeast S. pombe.

Purified Na+,K+‐ATPase from pig kidney was attached to black lipid membranes. Pump currents of the enzyme could be measured with a time resolution of approx. 1 ms by releasing ATP from caged ATP with a UV laser flash. Analysis of the transient currents shows that a slow non‐electrogenic step is followed by an electrogenic transition with a rate constant of 100 s−1(22°C). The exponential components found in the transient currents are compared to transitions in the Albers‐Post scheme.

Purified Na +,K +-ATPase from pig kidney was attached to black lipid membranes. Pump currents of the enzyme could be measured with a time resolution of approx. 1 ms by releasing ATP from caged ATP with a UV laser flash. Analysis of the transient currents shows that a slow non-electrogenic step is followed by an electrogenic transition with a rate constant of 100 s −1(22°C). The exponential components found in the transient currents are compared to transitions in the Albers-Post scheme.

The magnetostatic properties of K2CoxFe1-xF4 have been investigated by susceptibility and Mössbauer measurements at different concentrations and temperatures. Three magnetically ordered phases are found: a planar phase, an OAF phase, and an uniaxial phase. The experimental results are compared to a molecular-field calculation. At certain concentrations and temperatures it is not possible to obtain a good least squares fit of the Mössbauer spectra, which is tentatively assigned to relaxation effects due to fast spin fluctuations at the OAF phase transition.

Summary: (H,K)-ATPase containing membranes from hog stomach were attached to black lipid membranes. Currents induced by an ATP concentration jump were recorded and analyzed. A sum of three exponentials (tau1-1ap 400 sec–1, tau2-1ap 100 sec–1, tau3-1ap 10 sec–1; T = 300 K, pH 6, MgCl2 3 mm, no K+) was fitted to the transient signal. The dependence of the resulting time constants and the peak current on electrolyte composition, ATP conversion rate, temperature, and membrane conductivity was recorded. The results are consistent with a reaction scheme similar to that proposed by Albers and Post for the NaK-ATPase. Based on this model the following assignments were made: tau2 corresponds to ATP binding and exchange with caged ATP. tau1 describes the phosphorylation reaction E1 · ATP rarr E1P. The third, slowest time constant tau3 is tentatively assigned to the E1P rarr E2P transition. This is the first electrogenic step and is accelerated at high pH and by ATP via a low affinity binding site. The second electrogenic step is the transition from E2K to E1H. The E2K harr E1H equilibrium is influenced by potassium with an apparent K 0.5 of 3 mm and by the pH. Low pH and low potassium concentration stabilize the E1 conformation.

The transport activity of purified Na+K+‐ATPase was investigated by measuring the electrical pump current induced on black lipid membranes. Discs containing purified Na+K+‐ATPase from pig kidney were attached to planar lipid bilayers in a sandwich‐like structure. After the addition of only microM concentrations of an inactive photolabile ATP derivative [P3‐1‐(2‐nitro)phenylethyladenosine 5′‐triphosphate, caged ATP] ATP was released after illumination with u.v.‐light, which led to a transient current in the system. The transient photoresponse indicates that the discs and the underlying membrane are capacitatively coupled. Stationary pump currents were obtained after the addition of the H+, Na+ exchanging agent monensin together with valinomycin to the membrane system, which increased the permeability of the black lipid membrane for the pumped ions. In the absence of ADP and Pi the half saturation for the maximal photoeffect was obtained at 6.5 microM released ATP. The addition of ADP decreased the pump activity. Pump activity was obtained only in the presence of Mg2+ together with Na+ and Na+ and K+. No pump current was obtained in the presence of Mg2+ together with K+. The electrical response was blocked completely by the Na+K+‐ATPase‐specific inhibitors vanadate and ouabain. No pump currents were observed with a chemically modified protein, which was labelled on the ATP binding site with fluoresceine isothiocyanate. The method described offers the possibility of investigating by direct electrical measurements ion transport of Na+K+‐ATPase with a large variety of different parameters.

A spectroscopic and functional analysis of two point‐mutated bacteriorhodopsins (BRs) from phototrophic negative halobacterial strains is reported. Bacteriorhodopsin from strain 384 contains a glutamic acid instead of an aspartic acid at position 85 and BR from strain 326 contains asparagine instead of aspartic acid at position 96. Compared to wild‐type BR, the M formation in BR Asp85–‐Glu is accwelerated approximately 10‐fold, whereas the M decay in BR Asp96–‐Asn is slowed down approximately 50‐fold at pH6. Purple membrane sheets containing the mutated BRs were oriented and immobilized in polyacrylamide gels or adsorbed to planar lipid films. The measured kinetics of the photocurrents under various conditions agree with the observed photocycle kinetics. The ineffectivity of BR Asp85–‐Glu resides in the dominance of an inactive species absorbing maximally at approximately 610 nm, while BR Asp96–‐Asn is ineffective due to its slow photocycle. These experimental results suggest that aspartic acid 96 plays a crucial role for the reprotonation of the Schiff base. Both residues are essential for an effective proton pump.