Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Carmeli

Publications and source records attributed to C Carmeli.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Surface charge changes in purple membranes and the photoreaction cycle of bacteriorhodopsin.

The surface potential of purple membrane fragments, determined from the distribution of the aqueous free and the membrane-bound positively charged, paramagnetic, amphiphilic probe 4-(dodecyldimethylammonium)-1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine bromide varied almost 60 mV as a function of ionic strength and 50 mV as a function of pH of the medium. Light-induced changes in surface potential followed the changes observed in the M412 intermediate of the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin as a function of pH, temperature, and response to antibiotics beauvericin and valinomycin. The number of induced charges per M412 appearing at the surface of purple membranes decreased from about 0.75 to 0.45 as the surface potential became more negative. The stoichiometry would be twice as large if the charge changes were localized exclusively on one side of the purple membrane. Laser flash-induced kinetics of the rise and decay of surface charge changes were slightly slower than the kinetics of the rise and decay of M412 which is associated with the reversible deprotonation of the retinal Schiff base nitrogen in the chromophore. It is suggested that the light-induced charge changes monitor a dissociable amino acid residue which may be a step in the movement of protons across the purple membrane.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Properties of ATPase activity in coupling factor from Chromatium strain D chromatophores.

Coupling factor extracted from chromatophores of the photosynthetic bacteria Chromatium strain D was partially purified. The enzyme catalyzed ATPase activity in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions. Higher Vapp values were obtained when the activity was measured as a function of the divalent cation-ATP complex rather than as a function of either the divalent cation or ATP because the free components competitively inhibited the activity in the presence of the cation-ATP complex. The Km values were lower than or equal to the Ki values for free ATP indicating that the cation-ATP complex is bound tighter than the free ATP to the enzyme. Based on these results a possible mode of binding of substrate to the active site of the enzyme was suggested. A comparative study indicated no changes in the temperature dependance of ATPase activity when the enzyme was solubilized. However, possible conformation changes could have caused a decrease in the Km values for the (Ca-ATP)2- and (Mg-ATP)2- and in the Ki for free Mg2+ ions and ATP. The Ki for free Ca2+ ions increased on solubilization of the coupling factor. ATPase activity was inhibited by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide both in the soluble and in the membrane-bound coupling factor.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The location and function of cytochrome c2 in Rhodopseudomonas capsulate membranes.

Two fractions of membrane preparations, a heavy and a light one were isolated from mildly broken Rhodopseudomonas capsulata cells. The light fraction which contained vesicles similar to the regular chromatophores obtained by sonication and a heavy fraction which appeared in electron micrographs to consist of cell fragments which were designated as heavy chromatophores and were composed of broken cell envelopes containing closely packed vesicles enclosed within the cytoplasmic membrane. Both types of chromatophores catalyzed photophosphorylation. However, cytochrome c2 could be washed out only from the heavy chromatophores. Photophosphorylation activity which was lost by the removal of the cytochrome could be restored by addition of either cytochrome c2 or phenazine methosulphate. Light induced proton efflux in heavy chromatophores in contrast to proton influx in regular chromatophores. The washed heavy chromatophores did not lose the light induced proton movement. Light induced quenching of 9-aminoacridine and atebrin fluorescence in chromatophores, while the fluorescence was enhanced in the heavy chromatophores. The washing did not affect the fluorescence changes of the heavy chromatophores but caused a reduction of the steady state of the carotenoid absorbance shift. It is suggested that the membrane in the heavy chromatophores is oriented inside out with respect to the membrane in regular chromatophores. Cytochrome c2 which is attached to that side of the membrane facing the outside medium could be removed from the heavy chromatophors and reconstituted to them. The role of cytochrome c2 in photophosphorylation is discussed.

Bacterial Chromatophores↗

Control of proton translocation induced by ATPase activity in chloroplasts.

1. Proton uptake was induced by ATP in the dark following light triggering of ATPase activity in chloroplasts. The accumulated protons were released when ATPase activity was inhibited by the energy transfer inhibitor DIO-9. 2. Approximately two protons were taken up for each ATP hydrolyzed at pH 8. A drop in H+/ATP ratio was caused by uncouplers such as NH4Cl and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone. These uncouplers caused an increase in the rate of ATP hydrolysis without a corresponding increase in proton uptake. 3. The energy transfer inhibitor dicyclocarbodiimide inhibited both ATPase activity and the rate of proton uptake without changing the H+/ATP ratio. 4. The antibiotic valinomycin caused an increase in the rate of both proton uptake and ATP hydrolysis without altering the ratio of H+/ATP. The H+/ATP ratio varied with changes in the external pH. The results were discussed in view of the chemiosmotic theory of oxidative and photosynthetic phosphorylation.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Proton translocation induced by ATPase activity in chloroplasts.

Proton uptake by chloroplasts was induced by light-triggered ATPase activity. A quotient of two was obtained when the initial rate of proton uptake was divided by the rate of P(i) released from ATP. Gramicidin accelerated the rate of ATPase activity and reduced the H(+)/P(i) ratio to 1.4. The results were found to be consistent with the chemiosmotic theory.

Journal Article↗