Dye-ligand chromatographic purification of intact multisubunit membrane protein complexes: application to the chloroplast H+-F0F1-ATP synthase

Abstract

n-Dodecyl-β-D-maltoside was used as a detergent to solubilize the ammonium sulphate precipitate of chloroplast FOF1-ATP synthase, which was purified further by dye-ligand chromatography. Upon reconstitution of the purified protein complex into phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidic acid liposomes, ATP synthesis, driven by an artificial ∆pH/∆ψ, was observed. The highest activity was achieved with ATP synthase solubilized in n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside followed by chromatography with Red 120 dye. The optimal dye for purification with CHAPS was Green 5. All known subunits were present in the monodisperse proton-translocating ATP synthase preparation obtained from chloroplasts.