The ADP that binds tightly to nucleotide-depleted mitochondrial F1-ATPase and inhibits catalysis is bound at a catalytic site.

Previous studies have shown that the initial complex formed when ADP binds to nucleotide-depleted F1-ATPase is transformed with a half time of 2 to 3 min to form with a much lower rate of ADP release. The ADP binding results in a strong inhibition of ATPase activity. The present paper reports appraisal of where the inhibitory ADP binds by use of the photoreactive ADP analog, 2-N3-ADP. In presence of Mg2+ the 2-N3-ADP like ADP induces reversible inhibition of nucleotide-depleted F1 (ndF1) with a Kd of about 10 nM. Photoirradiation of the inactive 2-N3-[beta-32P]ADP-ndF1 complex results in labeling of only the beta-subunit. The major labeled peptide isolated from a trypic digest consists of residues from Ala-338 to Arg-356, with Tyr-345 as the site of labeling. This identifies the site of the inhibitory ADP binding as one of the catalytic sites of the enzyme.