The ATP synthase of chloroplasts consists of the proton channel, CFo, and the catalytic part, CF1, which carries nucleotide-binding sites on subunits c1 and 8. The still poorly understood interaction between CFo and the catalytic sites on CF1 is mediated by the smaller subunits y, 6 and E of CF1. We investigated the ability of purified 6 to block proton leakage through CFo channels after their exposure by removal of the CF1 counterpart.Thylakoids were partially depleted of CF1 by EDTA treatment. This increased their proton permeability and thereby reduced the rate of photophosphorylation. Subunit 6 was isolated and purified by FPLC FEBS Lett. 219, 321 -3251. Addition of 6 to EDTA-treated thylakoids reconstituted high rates of phenazine-methosulfate-mediated photophosphorylation. Since 6 does not interact with nucleotides by itself, the reconstitution was due to a reduction of the proton leakage through open CFo channels. The molar ratio of purified 6 over exposed CFo, which started to elicit this effect, was 3 : 1. However, if 6 was added together with purified CF1 lacking 6, in a 1 : 1 molar ratio, the relative amount over exposed CFo was as low as 0.06. This corroborated our previous conclusion [Lill, H., Engelbrecht, S., Schonknecht, G. and Junge, W. (1986) Eur. J . Biochem. 160, 627 -6341 that only a very small fraction of exposed CFo was actually proton-conducting but with a very high unit conductance. CF1 including 6 was apparently rebound preferentially to open CFo channels.Although the ability of 6 to control proton conduction through CFo was evident, it remains to be established whether 6 acts as a gated proton valve or as a conformational transducer in the integral CFoCFl ATPase.The ATP synthase in thylakoid membranes (CFoCFl) couples proton flux to ATP synthesis. It belongs to a class of ATP synthases which also occur in the inner mitochondrial membrane (MFoMFl) and in micro-organisms, e.g. Escherichia coli (EFoEFl) and thermophilic bacteria (TFoTF1). For recent reviews see [l -51. The chloroplast ATP synthase consists of nine different subunits [6, 71. Four of them probably form the membrane-embedded proton channel CFo. Their relative stoichiometry and their quaternary structure are still under debate. The other five subunits form the extrinsic catalytic part, CF1, comprising a (56-58 kda), j (53-56kDa), y (37-39kDa), 6 (19-21 kDa), and E (1 5 kDa). Their stoichiometry is C(&Y61-3~. Electron-microscopic investigations of isolated F1 showed an alternating arrangement of the a and @ subunits in a nearly hexagonal conformation ('cyclohexane chair') [8,9]. A center mass, probably composed of subunits y, 6 and E is slightly shifted out of Correspondence to S. Engelbrecht, Biophysik, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, Universitat Osnabriick, BarbarastraDe 1 1, D-4500 Osnabruck, Federal Republic of Germany Abbreviations. CFoCF1, chloroplast ATP synthase; EFoEF1, E. coli ATP synthase; MFoMF1, mitochondrial ATP synthase; CF1, integral chloroplast ATPase; CFo, chloroplast proton channel; CFl(-6), CF1 lacking the 6 ...