Molecular devices of chloroplast F1-ATP synthase for the regulation

In chloroplasts, synthesis of ATP is energetically coupled with the utilization of a proton gradient formed by photosynthetic electron transport. The involved enzyme, the chloroplast ATP synthase, can potentially hydrolyze ATP when the magnitude of the transmembrane electrochemical potential difference of protons (DeltamuH(+)) is small, e.g. at low light intensity or in the dark. To prevent this wasteful consumption of ATP, the activity of chloroplast ATP synthase is regulated as the occasion may demand. As regulation systems DeltamuH(+) activation, thiol modulation, tight binding of ADP and the role of the intrinsic inhibitory subunit E is well documented. In this article, we discuss recent progress in understanding of the regulation system of the chloroplast ATP synthase at the molecular level. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.