In isolated spinach chloroplasts, low concentrations (I(50)=14 microM) of methyl trachyloban-19-oate ester inhibited ATP synthesis and coupled electron transport as well as light-activated membrane-bound Mg(2+)-ATPase activity. Basal (-Pi) and uncoupled electron transport and heat-activated Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase activity of isolated coupling factor proteins were unaffected by methyl trachyloban-19-oate. Thylakoids partially stripped of coupled factor by EDTA were unable to accumulate protons in the light. However, increasing concentrations of methyl trachyloban-19-oate ester restored this ability. It is concluded that the methyl trachyloban-19-oate ester effects result from blocking proton transport through the CF(0) channel. Methyl trachyloban-19-oate ester exhibited non-competitive kinetics with DCCD and triphenyltin. These results suggest that the natural products, DCCD and triphenyltin, access inhibition sites in CF(0). The K(i) is 75 microM.