The use of aurovertin to determine the F1 content of submitochondrial particles and the ATPase complex

Abstract

(1) The concentration of aurovertin-binding sites calculated from fluorimetric titrations of submitochondrial particles is equal to the F1 concentration, calculated from the concentration of F1-binding sites in stripped particles. (2) Direct binding experiments show that the fluorescence enhancement of aurovertin bound to submitochondrial particles and the isolated ATPase complex is less (or absent) at higher concentrations than at lower concentrations. The binding data can be described by 'specific' and 'non-specific' binding. The concentration of the 'specific' sites is twice that derived from fluorimetric titrations. (3) After dissociation of the bound F1 with LiCl, fluorimetric titrations with aurovertin yield linear Scatchard plots. The fluorescence enhancement and KD are equal to those of the beta-subunit-aurovertin complex. The concentration of beta-subunits is double the concentration of F1. (4) It is concluded that both for submitochondrial particles and the isolated ATPase complex the most reliable and simple way to determine the F1 content is to dissociate the F1 with LiCl, spin down the insoluble material and titrate the supernatant (containing free beta-subunit) with aurovertin.