Synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP by the mitochondrial ATP synthase.

A brief summary of the factors that control synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP by the mitochondrial H+-ATP synthase is made. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of the natural ATPase inhibitor protein. It is clear from the existing data obtained with a number of agents that there is no correlation between variations of the rate of ATP hydrolysis and ATP synthesis as driven by respiration. The mechanism by which each condition differentially affects the two activities is not entirely known. For the case of the natural ATPase inhibitor protein, it appears that the protein controls the kinetics of the enzyme. This control seems essential for achieving maximal accumulation of ATP during electron transport in systems that contain relatively high concentrations of ATP.