8-Azido-adenosine 5'-triphosphate as a Photoaffinity Label for Bacterial F1 ATPase

Abstract
8-Azido-adenosine 5''-triphosphate .**GRAPHIC**. is a suitable photoaffinity label for F1 ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] from Micrococcus luteus. The nucleotide is a substrate in the presence of bivalent cations and inhibits the enzyme irreversibly upon irradiation with UV light above 300 nm. More than 80% of the label is covalently bound to the .beta. subunits in the presence of bivalent cations. Labeling and inactivation is decreased by protection with ADP, ATP or adenyl-5''-yl imidodiphosphate. To a much smaller degree the .alpha. subunits also become labeled. .**GRAPHIC**. does not specifically bind to the .beta. subunits upon irradiation. Like .**GRAPHIC**. and .**GRAPHIC**. it also labels the .alpha. subunits to a small extent. The F1 ATPase is inactivated after a single .beta. subunit per F1 complex became labeled. A cooperativity of the .beta. subunits carrying nucleotide binding sites is suggested.