Pump and Displacement Currents of Reconstituted ATP Synthase on Black Lipid Membranes

Purified ATP synthase (F0F1) from Rhodospirillum rubrum was reconstituted into asolectine liposomes which were then adsorbed to a planar lipid bilayer. After the addition of an inactive photolabile ATP derivative (caged ATP), ATP was released after illumination with u.v.-light, which led to a transient current in the system. The transient photocurrent indicates that the vesicles and the planar membrane are capacitatively coupled. Stationary pump currents were obtained after addition of protonophores. These currents are specifically inhibited by oligomycin and stimulated threefold by inorganic phosphate (Pi). In analogy oligomycin sensitive pump currents in the reverse direction coupled to n…