Immobilized calcium affinity chromatography was used to obtain a preparation enriched in calcium transporters from Triton X-100 extracts of rat liver mitochondria inner membranes (PPCT). The PPCT were reconstituted into preformed asolectin liposomes which contained 120 mM KCl as internal high K+ medium. 45Ca2+ uptake into proteoliposomes was studied under conditions favoring electrophoretic uptake, and H+i/45Ca2+o or Na+i/45Ca2+o exchange, to test for the presence of the three calcium transport modes present in mitochondria. 45Ca2+ uptake in liposomes was studied in parallel. Na+i/45Ca2+o exchange activity was not detectable. H+i/45Ca2+o exchange activity measured in the presence of a pH gradient (acid inside) obtained after suspension in low K medium in the presence of nigericin, was 100-200 nmoles 45Ca2+ per mg protein in 30 s. 45Ca2+ uptake in voltage-dependent assays (a K+ diffusion membrane potential induced by valinomycin in the presence of methylamine) was not electrophoretic since it was stimulated by carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) and probably due to secondary Ca2+/H+ countertransport. H+i/45Ca2+o uptake showed a saturable component at around 80 microM Ca and was coupled to an increase in internal pH in pyranine-loaded PPCT proteoliposomes. 45Ca2+ uptake in PPCT proteoliposomes could also be driven by a pH gradient obtained by raising external pH in high K+ medium. The results are consistent with the presence of a functional nH+/Ca2+ antiporter. Polyclonal antibodies raised against the PPCT were able to immunoprecipitate the H+/45Ca2+ uptake activity and recognized two major bands in the PPCT with molecular masses of about 66 kDa and 55 kDa. This is the first report of a partial purified protein(s) which may represent the H+/Ca2+ exchanger of the inner mitochondrial membrane, and represents an important step towards its identification.