The interaction of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide with chloroplast coupling factor 1

1. Incubation of soluble spinach Coupling Factor 1 (CF1) with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) results in the inactivation of the ATPase. The DCCD inactivation is time- and concentration-dependent. Complete inactivation of the CF1-ATPase activity requires the binding of 2 mol of DCCD/mol of CF1. The binding sites of DCCD are located on the beta subunit of CF1. 2. DCCD modification of soluble CF1 eliminates one adenine nucleotide binding site which is exposed by dithiothreitol activation or by incubation with tentoxin. The inactivation of both the ATPase activity and the adenine nucleotide binding site are pH-dependent. The inactivation of both the ATPase activity and the adenine nucleotide binding site are pH-dependent. Half-maximal inhibition occurs at about pH 7.5. 3. The DCCD-modified CF1, reconstituted with EDTA-treated chloroplasts, is fully active is restoring proton uptake but not in restoring ATP synthesis or light-dependent adenine nucleotide exchange.