Physical aggregation and functional reconstitution of solubilized membranes of Bacillus stearothermophilus

Isolated membranes of Bacillus stearothermophilus 2184D can be disrupted by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). This disruption is attended by a decreased turbidity of membrane suspensions and a differential loss of activities of the electron transport system. Reduced methyl viologen (MVH)-nitrate reductase activity is insensitive to SDS treatment, whereas reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-nitrate reductase and cyanide-sensitive NADH oxidase activities are decreased by 80% at an SDS concentration of 0.5 mg/mg of membrane protein. NADH-menadione reductase activity is unaffected at this SDS concentration, but at higher detergent levels it also decreases in activity. The abilities of NADH to reduce and nitrate to oxidize the cytochrome components of the membrane were also decreased after SDS treatment. Dilution of solubilized membrane in buffer containing divalent cation results in formation of an aggregate with an increased turbidity and reconstituted NADH-nitrate reductase and cyanide-sensitive NADH oxidase activities. Of several cations tested, magnesium was the most effective, and the reconstitution process was pH-dependent with an optimum at pH 7.4. Intact and aggregated membranes had similar densities and cytochrome contents, and the sensitivity of NADH-nitrate reductase to several inhibitors was similar in intact and reconstituted membranes.