Respiratory electron flow and ATPase system in photosynthetically grown Rhodopseudomonas palustris

Rhodopseudomonas palustris is grown photosynthetically on thiosulfate. As pointed out earlier, the chromatophore deficient cell-free fraction S-144,000 catalyzes the thiosulfate-linked ATP-dependent reversal of electron transfer in anaerobiosis, thus providing reducing equivalents in the form of NADH. Under aerobic conditions, this fraction also catalyzes the oxidation of NADH, ferro-cytochrome c, or ascorbate. ATP, ADP, and PPi are active in retarding the aerobic electron flow. The electron retardation is stimulated by the addition of Mg2+ due to a Mg2+-stimulated ATPase present. The ATPase system in S-144,000 hydrolyzes ATP, ADP, and PPi. Similarly, ATP or ADP, or even PPi can function as energy sources in order to achieve the reduction of pyridine nucleotide. The ATPase turnover is diminished by NADH or NAD+. Admixture of ascorbate results in an increased ATPase activity. Exactly the enhanced amount of adenine nucleotide hydrolysis caused by the addition of ascorbate is inhibited by cyanide.