Isolation of the ADP/ATP translocator from beef heart mitochondria as the bongkrekate-protein complex

1. The isolation of the ADP/ATP translocator from beef heart mitochondria as the bongkrekateprotein complex is described, using hydroxyapatite chromatography and gel filtration in Triton X-100 solution. 2. The inhibitor is bound to the protein prior to solubilization with detergent for protection against denaturation. Only the intact bongkrekate-protein passes easily through the hydroxyapatite column. Bongkrekate shileds the protein in contrast to carboxyatractylate only partially against proteinases present in the crude extract. 3. The isolated bongkrekate protein shows the same molecular weights in dodecylsulfate and Triton X-100, the same amino acid composition and the same isoelectric point as the earlier isolated carboxyatractylate-protein complex. It differs by its higher sensitivity against trypsin and thermolysin. 4. The identity of both proteins is demonstrated by interconversion of the bongkrekate-protein into the carboxyatractylate-protein. The process requires the catalysis by ADP or ATP, the natural substrates of the protein. 5. The formation of the extractable [3H]bongkrekate-protein complex in mitochondria requires the presence of ADP or ATP. 6. These data, the immunological studies presented earlier, and the differences in the reactivity of -SH groups of the isolated bongkrekate and carboxyatractylate complexes (to be published) indicate that both proteins represent different conformational states of the translocator protein (m-state and c-state).