Proton Translocation Activity Research Articles

Human clinical mutations in mitochondrially encoded subunits of Complex I can be successfully modeled in E. coli

Respiratory Complex I is the site of a large fraction of the mutations that appear to cause mitochondrial disease. Seven of its subunits are mitochondrially encoded, and therefore, such mutants are particularly difficult to construct in cell-culture model systems. We have selected 13 human clinical mutations found in ND2, ND3, ND4, ND4L, ND5 and ND6 that are generally found at subunit interfaces, and not in critical residues. These mutations have been modeled in E. coli subunits of Complex I, nuoN, nuoA, nuoM, nuoK, nuoL, and nuoJ, respectively. All mutants were expressed from a plasmid encoding the entire nuo operon, and membrane vesicles were analyzed for deamino-NADH oxidase activity, and proton translocation activity. ND5 mutants were also analyzed using a time-delayed expression system, recently described by this lab. Other mutants were analyzed for the ability to associate in subcomplexes, after expression of subsets of the genes. For most mutants there was a positive correlation between those that were previously determined to be pathogenic, or likely to be pathogenic, and those that we found with compromised Complex I activity or subunit interactions in E. coli. In conclusion, this approach provides another way to explore the deleterious effects of human mitochondrial mutations, and it can contribute to molecular understanding of such mutations.

The phototroph-specific β-hairpin structure of the γ subunit of FoF1-ATP synthase is important for efficient ATP synthesis of cyanobacteria

The FoF1 synthase produces ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. The γ subunit of FoF1 ATP synthase in photosynthetic organisms, which is the rotor subunit of this enzyme, contains a characteristic β-hairpin structure. This structure is formed from an insertion sequence that has been conserved only in phototrophs. Using recombinant subcomplexes, we previously demonstrated that this region plays an essential role in the regulation of ATP hydrolysis activity, thereby functioning in controlling intracellular ATP levels in response to changes in the light environment. However, the role of this region in ATP synthesis has long remained an open question because its analysis requires the preparation of the whole FoF1 complex and a transmembrane proton-motive force. In this study, we successfully prepared proteoliposomes containing the entire FoF1 ATP synthase from a cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and measured ATP synthesis/hydrolysis and proton-translocating activities. The relatively simple genetic manipulation of Synechocystis enabled the biochemical investigation of the role of the β-hairpin structure of FoF1 ATP synthase and its activities. We further performed physiological analyses of Synechocystis mutant strains lacking the β-hairpin structure, which provided novel insights into the regulatory mechanisms of FoF1 ATP synthase in cyanobacteria via the phototroph-specific region of the γ subunit. Our results indicated that this structure critically contributes to ATP synthesis and suppresses ATP hydrolysis.

Specific Methylation of Asp160 (49 kDa subunit) Located inside the Quinone Binding Cavity of Bovine Mitochondrial Complex I.

Asp160 in the 49 kDa subunit of bovine mitochondrial complex I, which is located in the inner part of the quinone binding cavity, is considered to be an essential residue for energy conversion of the enzyme. To elucidate the catalytic function of this residue, we attempted to specifically methylate 49 kDa Asp160 [Asp(COO)-CH3] through a ligand-directed tosyl (LDT) chemistry technique with an acetogenin derivative (ALM) as a high-affinity ligand. We confirmed the specific methylation of 49 kDa Asp160 through liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of the tryptic digests of the 49 kDa subunit. The binding affinity of a quinazoline-type inhibitor ([(125)I]AzQ) occupying the quinone binding cavity was not affected by methylation, indicating that this chemical modification does not induce significant structural changes inside the quinone binding cavity. The methylation of 49 kDa Asp160 did not lead to the complete loss of catalytic activity; the modified enzyme retained partial electron transfer and proton translocation activities. These results along with the fact that 49 kDa Asp160 elicits a very strong nucleophilicity against various LDT reagents in the local protein environment strongly suggest that this residue is free from strict interactions (such as electrostatic interaction) arising from nearby residue(s) and is functionally important but not essential for the energy conversion of complex I.

Dithiothreitol, redox reagent, is affecting proton-translocating ATPase activity of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Dithiothreitol, redox reagent, is affecting proton-translocating ATPase activity of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Squeezing at Entrance of Proton Transport Pathway in Proton-translocating Pyrophosphatase upon Substrate Binding

Homodimeric proton-translocating pyrophosphatase (H(+)-PPase; EC 3.6.1.1) is indispensable for many organisms in maintaining organellar pH homeostasis. This unique proton pump couples the hydrolysis of PPi to proton translocation across the membrane. H(+)-PPase consists of 14-16 relatively hydrophobic transmembrane domains presumably for proton translocation and hydrophilic loops primarily embedding a catalytic site. Several highly conserved polar residues located at or near the entrance of the transport pathway in H(+)-PPase are essential for proton pumping activity. In this investigation single molecule FRET was employed to dissect the action at the pathway entrance in homodimeric Clostridium tetani H(+)-PPase upon ligand binding. The presence of the substrate analog, imidodiphosphate mediated two sites at the pathway entrance moving toward each other. Moreover, single molecule FRET analyses after the mutation at the first proton-carrying residue (Arg-169) demonstrated that conformational changes at the entrance are conceivably essential for the initial step of H(+)-PPase proton translocation. A working model is accordingly proposed to illustrate the squeeze at the entrance of the transport pathway in H(+)-PPase upon substrate binding.

Penetrating Cations Enhance Uncoupling Activity of Anionic Protonophores in Mitochondria

Protonophorous uncouplers causing a partial decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential are promising candidates for therapeutic applications. Here we showed that hydrophobic penetrating cations specifically targeted to mitochondria in a membrane potential-driven fashion increased proton-translocating activity of the anionic uncouplers 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and carbonylcyanide-p-trifluorophenylhydrazone (FCCP). In planar bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) separating two compartments with different pH values, DNP-mediated diffusion potential of H+ ions was enhanced in the presence of dodecyltriphenylphosphonium cation (C12TPP). The mitochondria-targeted penetrating cations strongly increased DNP- and carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP)-mediated steady-state current through BLM when a transmembrane electrical potential difference was applied. Carboxyfluorescein efflux from liposomes initiated by the plastoquinone-containing penetrating cation SkQ1 was inhibited by both DNP and FCCP. Formation of complexes between the cation and CCCP was observed spectophotometrically. In contrast to the less hydrophobic tetraphenylphosphonium cation (TPP), SkQ1 and C12TPP promoted the uncoupling action of DNP and FCCP on isolated mitochondria. C12TPP and FCCP exhibited a synergistic effect decreasing the membrane potential of mitochondria in yeast cells. The stimulating action of penetrating cations on the protonophore-mediated uncoupling is assumed to be useful for medical applications of low (non-toxic) concentrations of protonophores.

The role of subunit NuoL for proton translocation by the respiratory complex I

The NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, respira- tory complex I, couples the transfer ofelectrons from NADHto ubiquinone with a translocation of protons across the mem- brane. The complex consists of a peripheral arm catalyzing the electron transfer reaction and a membrane arm involved in protontranslocation.TherecentlypublishedX-raystructuresof the complex revealed the presence of a unique 110 A hor- izontal helix aligning the membrane arm. On the basis of this finding, it was proposed that the energy released by the redox reaction is transmitted to the membrane arm via a conforma- tional change in the horizontal helix. The helix corresponds to the C-terminal part of the most distal subunit NuoL. To investigate its role in proton translocation, we characterized the electron transfer and proton translocation activity of complex I variants lacking either NuoL or parts of the C-terminal domain. Our data suggest that the H þ /2estoichiometry of the ΔNuoL variantis2,indicatingadifferentstoichiometryforprotontranslocationasproposedfromstructuraldata.Inaddition,thesameH þ / estoichiometry is obtained with the variant lacking the C-terminal transmembraneous helix of NuoL, indicating its role in energy transmission.

V-ATPase, ScNhx1p and Yeast Vacuole Fusion

Membrane fusion is the last step in trafficking pathways during which membrane vesicles fuse with target organelles to deliver cargos. It is a central cellular reaction that plays important roles in signal transduction, protein sorting and subcellular compartmentation. Recent progress in understanding the roles of ion transporters in vacuole fusion in yeast is summarized in this article. It is becoming increasingly evident that the vacuolar proton pump V-ATPase and vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter ScNhx1p are key components of the vacuole fusion machinery in yeast. Yeast ScNhx1p regulates vacuole fusion by controlling the luminal pH. V-ATPases serve a dual role in vacuolar integrity in which they regulate both vacuole fusion and fission reactions in yeast. Fission defects are epistatic to fusion defects. Vacuole fission depends on the proton translocation activity of the V-ATPase; by contrast, the fusion reaction does not need the transport activity but requires the physical presence of the proton pump. V0, the membrane-integral sector of the V-ATPase, forms trans-complexes between the opposing vacuoles in the terminal phase of vacuole fusion where the V0trans-complexes build a continuous proteolipid channel at the fusion site to mediate the bilayer fusion.

Effect of salicylic acid on the proton translocation activity of plasmalemma of potato tuber cells

Action of salicylic acid (SA) on the activity of membrane bound H(+)-ATPase and passive proton permeability of plasmalemma membrane vesicles (PMV) from parenchyma cells of potato tubers was detected. A correlation between SA action and germination of tubers and activity of plasmalemma H(+)-ATPase was revealed: the application of growth-stimulating concentrations of SA (10(-10)-10(-8) M) in the system in vitro resulted in activation of plasmalemma H(+)-ATPase, while the utilization of growth-inhibiting concentrations (10(-4), 10(-5) M) provoked inhibition of the enzyme activity. Addition of jasmonic acid (JA) to the incubation mix resulted in increase of SA effect on the accumulation of H+ in PMV.

Role of Subunit NuoL for Proton Translocation by Respiratory Complex I

The NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, respiratory complex I, couples the transfer of electrons from NADH to ubiquinone with a translocation of protons across the membrane. The complex consists of a peripheral arm catalyzing the electron transfer reaction and a membrane arm involved in proton translocation. The recently published X-ray structures of the complex revealed the presence of a unique 110 Å "horizontal" helix aligning the membrane arm. On the basis of this finding, it was proposed that the energy released by the redox reaction is transmitted to the membrane arm via a conformational change in the horizontal helix. The helix corresponds to the C-terminal part of the most distal subunit NuoL. To investigate its role in proton translocation, we characterized the electron transfer and proton translocation activity of complex I variants lacking either NuoL or parts of the C-terminal domain. Our data suggest that the H+/2e- stoichiometry of the ΔNuoL variant is 2, indicating a different stoichiometry for proton translocation as proposed from structural data. In addition, the same H+/e- stoichiometry is obtained with the variant lacking the C-terminal transmembraneous helix of NuoL, indicating its role in energy transmission.

Intricate Role of Water in Proton Transport through Cytochrome c Oxidase

Cytochrome c oxidase (CytcO), the final electron acceptor in the respiratory chain, catalyzes the reduction of O(2) to H(2)O while simultaneously pumping protons across the inner mitochondrial or bacterial membrane to maintain a transmembrane electrochemical gradient that drives, for example, ATP synthesis. In this work mutations that were predicted to alter proton translocation and enzyme activity in preliminary computational studies are characterized with extensive experimental and computational analysis. The mutations were introduced in the D pathway, one of two proton-uptake pathways, in CytcO from Rhodobacter sphaeroides . Serine residues 200 and 201, which are hydrogen-bonded to crystallographically resolved water molecules halfway up the D pathway, were replaced by more bulky hydrophobic residues (Ser200Ile, Ser200Val/Ser201Val, and Ser200Val/Ser201Tyr) to query the effects of changing the local structure on enzyme activity as well as proton uptake, release, and intermediate transitions. In addition, the effects of these mutations on internal proton transfer were investigated by blocking proton uptake at the pathway entrance (Asp132Asn replacement in addition to the above-mentioned mutations). Even though the overall activities of all mutant CytcO's were lowered, both the Ser200Ile and Ser200Val/Ser201Val variants maintained the ability to pump protons. The lowered activities were shown to be due to slowed oxidation kinetics during the P(R) → F and F → O transitions (P(R) is the "peroxy" intermediate formed at the catalytic site upon reaction of the four-electron-reduced CytcO with O(2), F is the oxoferryl intermediate, and O is the fully oxidized CytcO). Furthermore, the P(R) → F transition is shown to be essentially pH independent up to pH 12 (i.e., the apparent pK(a) of Glu286 is increased from 9.4 by at least 3 pK(a) units) in the Ser200Val/Ser201Val mutant. Explicit simulations of proton transport in the mutated enzymes revealed that the solvation dynamics can cause intriguing energetic consequences and hence provide mechanistic insights that would never be detected in static structures or simulations of the system with fixed protonation states (i.e., lacking explicit proton transport). The results are discussed in terms of the proton-pumping mechanism of CytcO.

Charged residues in the cytoplasmic loop of MotA are required for stator assembly into the bacterial flagellar motor

MotA and MotB form a transmembrane proton channel that acts as the stator of the bacterial flagellar motor to couple proton flow with torque generation. The C-terminal periplasmic domain of MotB plays a role in anchoring the stators to the motor. However, it remains unclear where their initial binding sites are. Here, we constructed Salmonella strains expressing GFP-MotB and MotA-mCherry and investigated their subcellular localization by fluorescence microscopy. Neither the D33N and D33A mutations in MotB, which abolish the proton flow, nor depletion of proton motive force affected the assembly of GFP-MotB into the motor, indicating that the proton translocation activity is not required for stator assembly. Overexpression of MotA markedly inhibited wild-type motility, and it was due to the reduction in the number of functional stators. Consistently, MotA-mCherry was observed to colocalize with GFP-FliG even in the absence of MotB. These results suggest that MotA alone can be installed into the motor. The R90E and E98K mutations in the cytoplasmic loop of MotA (MotA(C) ), which has been shown to abolish the interaction with FliG, significantly affected stator assembly, suggesting that the electrostatic interaction of MotA(C) with FliG is required for the efficient assembly of the stators around the rotor.

Prokaryotic Expression of Active Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein 1*

Mitochondrial respiratory oxidation is coupled with ATP synthesis. This coupling process can be broken by uncoupling protein (UCP), an integral membrane protein at mitochondrial inner membrane. Here, active rat UCP1 (rUCP1) was expressed in E. coli. Expression of rUCP1 can lower host’s growth rate. Immuno-electron microscopy proved expressed rUCP1 was mainly located on membrane. Purified rUCP1 was reconstituted into liposome and exhibited proton translocation activity. These results revealed eukaryotic UCP1 could be expressed in active form by prokaryotes and enable us to obtain enough amount of rUCP1 for structural study.

Cholesterol-binding viral proteins in virus entry and morphogenesis.

Up to now less than a handful of viral cholesterol-binding proteins have been characterized, in HIV, influenza virus and Semliki Forest virus. These are proteins with roles in virus entry or morphogenesis. In the case of the HIV fusion protein gp41 cholesterol binding is attributed to a cholesterol recognition consensus (CRAC) motif in a flexible domain of the ectodomain preceding the trans-membrane segment. This specific CRAC sequence mediates gp41 binding to a cholesterol affinity column. Mutations in this motif arrest virus fusion at the hemifusion stage and modify the ability of the isolated CRAC peptide to induce segregation of cholesterol in artificial membranes.Influenza A virus M2 protein co-purifies with cholesterol. Its proton translocation activity, responsible for virus uncoating, is not cholesterol-dependent, and the transmembrane channel appears too short for integral raft insertion. Cholesterol binding may be mediated by CRAC motifs in the flexible post-TM domain, which harbours three determinants of binding to membrane rafts. Mutation of the CRAC motif of the WSN strain attenuates virulence for mice. Its affinity to the raft–non-raft interface is predicted to target M2 protein to the periphery of lipid raft microdomains, the sites of virus assembly. Its influence on the morphology of budding virus implicates M2 as factor in virus fission at the raft boundary. Moreover, M2 is an essential factor in sorting the segmented genome into virus particles, indicating that M2 also has a role in priming the outgrowth of virus buds.SFV E1 protein is the first viral type-II fusion protein demonstrated to directly bind cholesterol when the fusion peptide loop locks into the target membrane. Cholesterol binding is modulated by another, proximal loop, which is also important during virus budding and as a host range determinant, as shown by mutational studies.

Singlet oxygen inhibits ATPase and proton translocation activity of the thylakoid ATP synthase CF1CFo

Singlet oxygen ( 1O 2) produced in plants during photosynthesis has a strong damaging effect not only on both photosystems but also on the whole photosynthetic machinery. This is also applicable for the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase. Here we describe the impact of 1O 2 generated by the photosensitizer Rose Bengal on the ATP hydrolysis and ATP-driven proton translocation activity of CF1CFo. Both activities were reduced dramatically within 1 min of exposure. Interestingly, it is shown that oxidized thylakoid ATP synthase is more susceptible to 1O 2 than CF1CFo in its reduced state, a new insight on the mechanism of 1O 2 interaction with the γ subunit.

Identification of amino acid residues participating in the energy coupling and proton transport of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) H +-pyrophosphatase

The H +-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase is a proton pump that hydrolyzes inorganic pyrophosphate. It consists of a single polypeptide with 14–17 transmembrane domains (TMs). We focused on the third quarter region of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) H +-pyrophosphatase, which contains a long conserved cytoplasmic loop. We assayed 1520 mutants for pyrophosphate hydrolysis and proton translocation, and selected 34 single-residue substitution mutants with low substrate hydrolysis and proton-pump activities. We also generated 39 site-directed mutant enzymes and assayed their activity. The mutation of 5 residues in TM10 resulted in low energy-coupling efficiencies, and mutation of conserved residues Thr 409, Val 411, and Gly 414 showed neither hydrolysis nor pumping activity. The mutation of six, five, and four residues in TM11, 12, and 13, respectively, gave a negative effect. Phe 388, Thr 389, and Val 396 in cytoplasmic loop i were essential for efficient H + translocation. Ala 436 and Pro 560 in the periplasmic loops were critical for coupling efficiency. These low-efficiency mutants showed dysfunction of the energy-conversion and/or proton-translocation activity. The energy efficiency was increased markedly by the mutation of two and six residues in TM9 and 12, respectively. These results suggest that TM10 is involved in enzyme function, and that TM12 regulate the energy-conversion efficiency. H +-pyrophosphatase might involve dynamic linkage between the hydrophilic loops and TMs through the central half region of the enzyme.

Essential amino acid residues in the central transmembrane domains and loops for energy coupling of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) H +-pyrophosphatase

The H +-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase is a proton pump that hydrolyzes inorganic pyrophosphate. It consists of a single polypeptide with 14−17 transmembrane domains, and is found in a range of organisms. We focused on the second quarter region of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) H +-pyrophosphatase, which contains long conserved cytoplasmic loops. We prepared a library of 1536 mutants that were assayed for pyrophosphate hydrolysis and proton translocation. Mutant enzymes with low substrate hydrolysis and proton-pump activities were selected and their DNAs sequenced. Of these, 34 were single-residue substitution mutants. We generated 29 site-directed mutant enzymes and assayed their activity. The mutation of 10 residues in the fifth transmembrane domain resulted in low coupling efficiencies, and a mutation of Gly 198 showed neither hydrolysis nor pumping activity. Four residues in cytoplasmic loop e were essential for substrate hydrolysis and efficient H + translocation. Pro 189, Asp 281, and Val 351 in the periplasmic loops were critical for enzyme function. Mutation of Ala 357 in periplasmic loop h caused a selective reduction of proton-pump activity. These low-efficiency mutants reflect dysfunction of the energy-conversion and/or proton-translocation activities of H +-pyrophosphatase. Four critical residues were also found in transmembrane domain 6, three in transmembrane domain 7, and five in transmembrane domains 8 and 9. These results suggest that transmembrane domain 5 is involved in enzyme function, and that energy coupling is affected by several residues in the transmembrane domains, as well as in the cytoplasmic and periplasmic loops. H +-pyrophosphatase activity might involve dynamic linkage between the hydrophilic and transmembrane domains.

Inhibition of Reversed Electron Transfer and Proton Transport in the Beef Heart Cytochrome bc1 Complex by Chemical Modification

Chemical modification of the bovine heart cytochrome bc1 complex with N-(ethoxycarbonyl)-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) has been reported to inhibit the proton pumping activity without affecting the rate of electron transfer to ferricytochrome c. This study aims to examine the effect of EEDQ on energy-linked reversed electron transfer in the bc1 complex reconstituted into potassium-loaded phospholipid vesicles. Generation of a valinomycin-mediated potassium-diffusion potential induced the reduction of cytochrome b in the reconstituted bc1 complex in the presence of sodium ascorbate. The time course of the cytochrome b reduction was well correlated with that of the absorbance change of safranine, an optical probe for measuring membrane potential. Treatment of the bc1 complex with EEDQ caused a decrease in the potential-induced reduction of cytochrome b as well as in the proton translocation activity. But a significant loss in the ubiquinol-cytochrome c reducing activity was not observed in the EEDQ-treated bc1 complex. The time- and concentration-dependent effect of EEDQ on the reversed electron transfer was well correlated with that of the proton translocation activity of the bc1 complex. These findings strongly support the idea that the potential-induced reversal of electron transfer is coupled to the reverse flow of protons in the cytochrome bc1 complex.

A “Petite Obligate” Mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: FUNCTIONAL mtDNA IS LETHAL IN CELLS LACKING THE δ SUBUNIT OF MITOCHONDRIAL F1-ATPASE

Within the mitochondrial F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase, the nucleus-encoded delta-F(1) subunit plays a critical role in coupling the enzyme proton translocating and ATP synthesis activities. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, deletion of the delta subunit gene (Deltadelta) was shown to result in a massive destabilization of the mitochondrial genome (mitochondrial DNA; mtDNA) in the form of 100% rho(-)/rho degrees petites (i.e. cells missing a large portion (>50%) of the mtDNA (rho(-)) or totally devoid of mtDNA (rho degrees )). Previous work has suggested that the absence of complete mtDNA (rho(+)) in Deltadelta yeast is a consequence of an uncoupling of the ATP synthase in the form of a passive proton transport through the enzyme (i.e. not coupled to ATP synthesis). However, it was unclear why or how this ATP synthase defect destabilized the mtDNA. We investigated this question using a nonrespiratory gene (ARG8(m)) inserted into the mtDNA. We first show that retention of functional mtDNA is lethal to Deltadelta yeast. We further show that combined with a nuclear mutation (Deltaatp4) preventing the ATP synthase proton channel assembly, a lack of delta subunit fails to destabilize the mtDNA, and rho(+) Deltadelta cells become viable. We conclude that Deltadelta yeast cannot survive when it has the ability to synthesize the ATP synthase proton channel. Accordingly, the rho(-)/rho degrees mutation can be viewed as a rescuing event, because this mutation prevents the synthesis of the two mtDNA-encoded subunits (Atp6p and Atp9p) forming the core of this channel. This is the first report of what we have called a "petite obligate" mutant of S. cerevisiae.

Effects of ABA, auxin, and gibberellin on the expression of genes for vacuolar H +-inorganic pyrophosphatase, H +-ATPase subunit A, and Na +/H + antiporter in barley

We analyzed the effects of ABA, auxin, and gibberellin on the expression of two genes ( HVP1 and HVP10) for vacuolar H +-inorganic pyrophosphatase (EC 3.6.1.1) and one ( HvVHA-A) for the catalytic subunit (subunit A) of vacuolar H +-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) by quantification of the transcript levels, to identify the hormones responsible for regulating the expression of these genes in barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) in response to environmental changes such as salt stress. ABA markedly induced the expression of HVP1 and slightly increased the expression of HVP10 and HvVHA-A. In contrast, 2,4-D only increased the expression of HVP1, and GA 3 had no significant effects on any gene. The maximum level of HVP1 transcripts in response to these hormones was also much higher than the levels of HVP10 and HvVHA-A transcripts. In addition, we also analyzed the expression of one gene ( HvNHX1) for vacuolar Na +/H + antiporter, and HvNHX1 expression changed in a pattern similar to that of the HVP1 expression. Furthermore, treatment with ABA and 2,4-D increased Na +/H + antiport activity and proton-translocating activities by H +-PPase and H +-ATPase in tonoplast vesicles, and treatment with ABA also increased the amount of V-PPase protein of tonoplast vesicles. These results suggest that the hormones ABA and 2,4-D regulate the expression of the H +-pump and Na +/H + antiporter genes and are thus important effectors that regulate the expression of HVP1and HvNHX1.