Studies of energy-linked reactions. Net synthesis of adenosine triphosphate by isolated adenosine triphosphate synthase preparations: a role for lipoic acid and unsaturated fatty acids.

ATP synthase preparations [complex V, proton-translocatin ATPase (adenosine triphosphatase) and oligomycin-sensitive ATPase ] contain stoicheiometric amounts of lipoic acid residues (up to 6mol of lipoic acid/mol of ATPase complex) and catalyse net ATP synthesis in an uncoupler-and oligomycin-sensitive reaction utilizing dihydrolipoate, oleoyl-CoA and oleic acid, or in a reaction utilizing oleoyl-S-lipoate. The terminal reactions of oxidative phosphorylation are thus analogous to those of substrate-level phosphorylation.