1. The magnitude of the protonmotive force in phosphorylating membrane vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans was estimated. The membrane potential component was determined from the uptake of S14CN−, and the transmembrane pH gradient component from the uptake of [14C]methylamine. In each case a flow-dialysis technique was used to monitor uptake. 2. With NADH as substrate, the membrane potential was about 145mV and the pH gradient was below 0.5 pH unit. The membrane potential was decreased by approx. 15mV during ATP synthesis, and was abolished on addition of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. In the presence of KCl plus valinomycin the membrane potential was replaced by a pH gradient of 1.5 units. 3. Succinate oxidation generated a membrane potential of approx. 125mV and the pH gradient was below 0.5 pH unit. Oxidation of ascorbate (in the presence of antimycin) with either 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine or NNN′N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine as electron mediator usually generated a membrane potential of approx. 90mV. On occasion, ascorbate oxidation did not generate a membrane potential, suggesting that the presence of a third energy-coupling site in P. denitrificans vesicles is variable. 4. With NADH or succinate as substrate, the phosphorylation potential (ΔGp=ΔG0′+RTln[ATP]/ [ADP][Pi]) was approx. 53.6kJ/mol (12.8kcal/mol). Comparison of this value with the protonmotive force indicates that more than 3 protons need to be translocated via the adenosine triphosphatase of P. denitrificans for each molecule of ATP synthesized by a chemiosmotic mechanism. In the presence of 10mm-KNO3 the protonmotive force was not detectable (<60mV) but ΔGp was not altered. This result may indicate either that there is no relationship between the protonmotive force and ΔGp, or that for an unidentified reason the equilibration of SCN− or methylamine with the membrane potential and the pH gradient is prevented by NO3− in this system.
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Research Article|
July 15 1978
The protonmotive force in phosphorylating membrane vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans. Magnitude, sites of generation and comparison with the phosphorylation potential
Douglas B. Kell;
Douglas B. Kell
1Botany School, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RA, U.K.
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Philip John;
Philip John
2Botany School, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RA, U.K.
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Stuart J. Ferguson
Stuart J. Ferguson
3Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© 1978 London: The Biochemical Society
1978
Biochem J (1978) 174 (1): 257–266.
Citation
Douglas B. Kell, Philip John, Stuart J. Ferguson; The protonmotive force in phosphorylating membrane vesicles from Paracoccus denitrificans. Magnitude, sites of generation and comparison with the phosphorylation potential. Biochem J 15 July 1978; 174 (1): 257–266. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj1740257
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