Adenosine triphosphate induced change in light scattering of isolated basal bodies

Suspensions of isolated basal bodies undergo a characteristic decrease in turbidity following their exposure to 10(-3) M ATP. Typically, turbidity changes range from 8% to 20%, depending on the preparation, with an average change of 12%. Nucleotides other than ATP did not cause a turbidity decrease. The reaction has a pH optimum of pH 8.5 and is inhibited by concentrations of divalent cations greater than 2 X 10(-3) M. These results indicate that ATP induces a conformational change in the basal body that may be related to its activity in the cell.