Protein Transport in Chloroplasts: ATP is Prerequisit

Abstract The energy requirement for protein transport into chloroplast was assayed under conditions that perm it to distinguish whether the posttranslational translocation is dependent on ATP or whether a membrane potential across the chloroplast envelope can drive this transport event. A membrane potential is not required for translocation. ATP can support protein transport in the presence of protonophores and ionophores. Non-hydrolyzable ATP analogues and GTP, CTP, UTP cannot serve as ATP substitutes. Translocation could be observed when an ATP generating system was used to supply ATP. In contrast ATP degrading systems completely abolished translocation. The inner envelope mem brane localized ATP-ase is probably not involved in the transport event. The results suggest that ATP is needed at the outer chloroplast envelope. Inhibition of protein transport by ADP, pyrophosphate and NaF is studied and its consequences discussed.