Proton coupling is preserved in membrane-bound chloroplast ATPase activated by high concentrations of tentoxin.

The effect of tentoxin at high concentrations was investigated in thylakoids and proteoliposomes containing bacteriorhodopsin and CF0CF1. Venturicidin-sensitive ATP hydrolysis, ATP-generated delta pH and ATP synthesis were practically 100% inhibited at 2 microM tentoxin, and restored to various extents beyond 50 microM. With respect to the native enzyme, tentoxin-reactivated ATPase had the following properties: (i) a higher delta pH requirement to synthetise ATP; (ii) a decreased futile proton flow through CF0CF1 (without ADP), which remains 100% blocked by ADP. It is concluded that despite its altered kinetic performances, tentoxin-modified CF0CF1 preserves its mechanism and remains a tightly coupled proton pump.