Specific photolabelling of beef-heart mitochondrial ATPase by 8-azido-ATP

1. 8-Azido-ATP is a suitable photoaffinity label for beef-heart mitochondrial ATPase (F1) 2. 8-Azido-ATP is hydrolysed slowly by F1 in the dark. Photolysis at 350 nm in the presence of F1 leads to inhibition of the ATPase activity. The presence of ATP during illumination prevents the inhibition. Illumination of F1 in the absence of 8-azido-ATP causes no inhibition. 3. Added Mg2+ is not necessary for the binding of the 8-azido-ATP to F1. 4. 8-Azido-ATP binds specifically to the beta subunits of F1. 5. The ATPase activity is completely inhibited when 2 mol of 8-azido-ATP are bound per mol F1.