Comparison of Different Cations (Mn2+, Mg2+, Ca2+) on the Hydrolytic Activity of Chloroplast ATPase

The influences of Mn2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ on the enzymic activity of chloroplast ATPase have been compared, using an HPLC method for the separation of ADP. The dissociation constants of the divalent ion–ATP complexes have been determined by a spectrophotometric method, with the dye antipyrylazo III, and enzymic constants (dissociation constant of the ion–enzyme complexes, Michaelis constants, maximum rates) have been calculated. The comparison between the rates obtained, respectively, with Mn2+ and Ca2+ alone with that given by the mixture of these two ions, allows us to conclude that, as for Mg2+, Mn2+ is also an activator of chloroplast ATPase and that metal-free ATP is the true substrate.