Interacting cytoplasmic loops of subunits a and c of Escherichia coli F1F0 ATP synthase gate H+ transport to the cytoplasm.

H(+)-transporting F1F0 ATP synthase catalyzes the synthesis of ATP via coupled rotary motors within F0 and F1. H(+) transport at the subunit a-c interface in transmembranous F0 drives rotation of a cylindrical c10 oligomer within the membrane, which is coupled to rotation of subunit γ within the α3β3 sector of F1 to mechanically drive ATP synthesis. F1F0 functions in a reversible manner, with ATP hydrolysis driving H(+) transport.

Half channels mediating H(+) transport and the mechanism of gating in the Fo sector of Escherichia coli F1Fo ATP synthase.

H(+)-transporting F1Fo ATP synthase catalyzes the synthesis of ATP via coupled rotary motors within Fo and F1. H(+) transport at the subunit a-c interface in trans-membranous Fo drives rotation of the c-ring within the membrane, with subunit c being bound in a complex with the γ and ε subunits extending from the membrane. Finally, the rotation of subunit γ within the α3β3 sector of F1 mechanically drives ATP synthesis within the catalytic sites.

Residues in the polar loop of subunit c in Escherichia coli ATP synthase function in gating proton transport to the cytoplasm.

Rotary catalysis in F1F0 ATP synthase is powered by proton translocation through the membrane-embedded F0 sector. Proton binding and release occur in the middle of the membrane at Asp-61 on the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of subunit c, which folds in a hairpin-like structure with two TMHs. Previously, the aqueous accessibility of Cys substitutions in the transmembrane regions of subunit c was probed by testing the inhibitory effects of Ag(+) or Cd(2+) on function, which revealed extensive aqueous access in the region around Asp-61 and on the half of TMH2 extending to the cytoplasm.

Obstruction of transmembrane helical movements in subunit a blocks proton pumping by F1Fo ATP synthase.

Subunit a plays a key role in promoting H(+) transport-coupled rotary motion of the subunit c ring in F1Fo ATP synthase. H(+) binding and release occur at Asp-61 in the middle of the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of Fo subunit c. H(+) are thought to reach cAsp61 via aqueous half-channels formed by TMHs 2-5 of subunit a.

Interactions between subunits a and b in the rotary ATP synthase as determined by cross-linking.

The interaction of the membrane traversing stator subunits a and b of the rotary ATP synthase was probed by substitution of a single Cys into each subunit with subsequent Cu(2+) catalyzed cross-linking. Extensive interaction between the transmembrane (TM) region of one b subunit and TM2 of subunit a was indicated by cross-linking with 6 Cys pairs introduced into these regions. Additional disulfide cross-linking was observed between the N-terminus of subunit b and the periplasmic loop connecting TM4 and TM5 of subunit a.

Cell-free synthesis of membrane subunits of ATP synthase in phospholipid bicelles: NMR shows subunit a fold similar to the protein in the cell membrane.

NMR structure determination of large membrane proteins is hampered by broad spectral lines, overlap, and ambiguity of signal assignment. Chemical shift and NOE assignment can be facilitated by amino acid selective isotope labeling in cell-free protein synthesis system. However, many biological detergents are incompatible with the cell-free synthesis, and membrane proteins often have to be synthesized in an insoluble form.

Chemical reactivities of cysteine substitutions in subunit a of ATP synthase define residues gating H+ transport from each side of the membrane.

Subunit a plays a key role in coupling H(+) transport to rotations of the subunit c-ring in F(1)F(o) ATP synthase. In Escherichia coli, H(+) binding and release occur at Asp-61 in the middle of the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of F(o) subunit c. Based upon the Ag(+) sensitivity of Cys substituted into subunit a, H(+) are thought to reach Asp-61 via aqueous pathways mapping to surfaces of TMH 2-5.

Aqueous accessibility to the transmembrane regions of subunit c of the Escherichia coli F1F0 ATP synthase.

Rotary catalysis in F(1)F(0) ATP synthase is powered by proton translocation through the membrane-embedded F(0) sector. Proton binding and release occur in the middle of the membrane at Asp-61 on transmembrane helix (TMH) 2 of subunit c. Previously the reactivity of Cys substituted into TMH2 revealed extensive aqueous access at the cytoplasmic side as probed with Ag(+) and other thiolate-directed reagents.

Structural interactions between transmembrane helices 4 and 5 of subunit a and the subunit c ring of Escherichia coli ATP synthase.

Subunit a plays a key role in promoting H+ transport and the coupled rotary motion of the subunit c ring in F1F0-ATP synthase. H+ binding and release occur at Asp-61 in the middle of the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of F0 subunit c. H+ are thought to reach Asp-61 via aqueous pathways mapping to the surfaces of TMHs 2-5 of subunit a.

The cytoplasmic loops of subunit a of Escherichia coli ATP synthase may participate in the proton translocating mechanism.

Subunit a plays a key role in promoting H(+) transport and the coupled rotary motion of the subunit c ring in F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase. H(+) binding and release occur at Asp-61 in the middle of the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of F(0) subunit c. H(+) are thought to reach Asp-61 via aqueous pathways mapping to the surfaces of TMHs 2-5 of subunit a based upon the chemical reactivity of Cys substituted into these helices.

Subunit a facilitates aqueous access to a membrane-embedded region of subunit c in Escherichia coli F1F0 ATP synthase.

Rotary catalysis in F(1)F(0) ATP synthase is powered by proton translocation through the membrane-embedded F(0) sector. Proton binding and release occurs in the middle of the membrane at Asp-61 on transmembrane helix 2 of subunit c. Previously, the reactivity of cysteines substituted into F(0) subunit a revealed two regions of aqueous access, one extending from the periplasm to the middle of the membrane and a second extending from the middle of the membrane to the cytoplasm.

Interaction of transmembrane helices in ATP synthase subunit a in solution as revealed by spin label difference NMR.

Subunit a in the membrane traversing F0 sector of Escherichia coli ATP synthase is known to fold with five transmembrane helices (TMHs) with residue 218 in TMH IV packing close to residue 248 in TMH V. In this study, we have introduced a spin label probe at Cys residues substituted at positions 222 or 223 and measured the effects on the Trp epsilon NH indole NMR signals of the seven Trp residues in the protein. The protein was purified and NMR experiments were carried out in a chloroform-methanol-H2O (4:4:1) solvent mixture.

Fluidity of structure and swiveling of helices in the subunit c ring of Escherichia coli ATP synthase as revealed by cysteine-cysteine cross-linking.

Subunit c in the membrane-traversing F(0) sector of Escherichia coli ATP synthase is known to fold with two transmembrane helices and form an oligomeric ring of 10 or more subunits in the membrane. Models for the E. coli ring structure have been proposed based upon NMR solution structures and intersubunit cross-linking of Cys residues in the membrane.

The rigid connecting loop stabilizes hairpin folding of the two helices of the ATP synthase subunit c.

We have tested the role of the polar loop of subunit c of the Escherichia coli ATP synthase in stabilizing the hairpin structure of this protein. The structure of the c(32-52) peptide corresponding to the cytoplasmic region of subunit c bound to the dodecylphosphocholine micelles was solved by high-resolution NMR. The region comprising residues 41-47 forms a well-ordered structure rather similar to the conformation of the polar loop region in the solution structure of the full-length subunit c and is flanked by short alpha-helical segments.

Aqueous access pathways in ATP synthase subunit a. Reactivity of cysteine substituted into transmembrane helices 1, 3, and 5.

Subunit a is thought to play a key role in H+ transport-driven rotation of the subunit c ring in Escherichia coli F1F0 ATP synthase. In the membrane-traversing F0 sector of the enzyme, H+ binding and release occurs at Asp-61 in the middle of the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of subunit c. Protons are thought to reach Asp-61 via aqueous channels formed at least in part by one or more of the five TMHs of subunit a.

Cross-linking between helices within subunit a of Escherichia coli ATP synthase defines the transmembrane packing of a four-helix bundle.

Subunit a of F(1)F(0) ATP synthase is required in the H(+) transport driven rotation of the c-ring of F(0), the rotation of which is coupled to ATP synthesis in F(1). The three-dimensional structure of subunit a is unknown. In this study, Cys substitutions were introduced into two different transmembrane helices (TMHs) of subunit a, and the proximity of the thiol side chains was tested via attempted oxidative cross-linking to form the disulfide bond.

The oligomeric subunit C rotor in the fo sector of ATP synthase: unresolved questions in our understanding of function.

We have proposed a model for the oligomeric c-rotor of the F(o) sector of ATP synthase and its interaction with subunit a during H+-transport driven rotation. The model is based upon the solution structure of monomeric subunit c, determined by NMR, and an extensive series of cross-linking distance constraints between c subunits and between subunits c and a. To explain the complete set of cross-linking data, we have suggested that the second transmembrane helix rotates during its interaction with subunit a in the course of the H+-translocation cycle.

Backbone 1H, 15N and 13C assignments for the subunit a of the E. coli ATP synthase.

The structure of the 30 KDa subunit a of the membrane component (F(0)) of E. coli ATP synthase is investigated in a mixture of chloroform, methanol and water, a solvent previously used for solving the structure of another integral membrane protein, subunit c. Near complete backbone chemical shift assignments were made from a set of TROSY experiments including HNCO, HNCA, HN(CA)CB, HN(CO)CACB and 4D HNCOCA and HNCACO.

Insights into the molecular mechanism of rotation in the Fo sector of ATP synthase.

F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase is a ubiquitous membrane protein complex that efficiently converts a cell's transmembrane proton gradient into chemical energy stored as ATP. The protein is made of two molecular motors, F(o) and F(1), which are coupled by a central stalk. The membrane unit, F(o), converts the transmembrane electrochemical potential into mechanical rotation of a rotor in F(o) and the physically connected central stalk.

Subunit A of the E. coli ATP synthase: reconstitution and high resolution NMR with protein purified in a mixed polarity solvent.

Subunit a of the Escherichia coli ATP synthase, a 30 kDa integral membrane protein, was purified to homogeneity by a novel procedure incorporating selective extraction into a monophasic mixture of chloroform, methanol and water, followed by Ni-NTA chromatography in the mixed solvent. Pure subunit a was reconstituted with subunits b and c and phospholipids to form a functional proton-translocating unit. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of the pure subunit a in the mixed solvent show good chemical shift dispersion and demonstrate the potential of the solvent mixture for NMR studies of the large membrane proteins that are currently intractable in aqueous detergent solutions.

Mechanics of coupling proton movements to c-ring rotation in ATP synthase.

F1F0 ATP synthases generate ATP by a rotary catalytic mechanism in which H+ transport is coupled to rotation of an oligomeric ring of c subunits extending through the membrane. Protons bind to and then are released from the aspartyl-61 residue of subunit c at the center of the membrane. Subunit a of the F0 sector is thought to provide proton access channels to and from aspartyl-61.

Aqueous access pathways in subunit a of rotary ATP synthase extend to both sides of the membrane.

The role of subunit a in promoting proton translocation and rotary motion in the Escherichia coli F1Fo ATP synthase is poorly understood. In the membrane-bound Fo sector of the enzyme, H+ binding and release occur at Asp-61 in the middle of the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of subunit c. Protons are thought to reach Asp-61 at the center of the membrane via aqueous channels formed at least in part by one or more of the five TMHs of subunit a.

Aqueous access channels in subunit a of rotary ATP synthase.

The role of subunit a in proton translocation by the Escherichia coli F(1)F(o) ATP synthase is poorly understood. In the membrane-bound F(o) sector of the enzyme, H(+) binding and release occurs at Asp(61) in the middle of the second transmembrane helix (TMH) of subunit c. Protons are thought to reach Asp(61) via an aqueous access pathway formed at least in part by one or more of the five TMHs of subunit a.

Structural model of the transmembrane Fo rotary sector of H+-transporting ATP synthase derived by solution NMR and intersubunit cross-linking in situ.

H(+)-transporting, F(1)F(o)-type ATP synthases utilize a transmembrane H(+) potential to drive ATP formation by a rotary catalytic mechanism. ATP is formed in alternating beta subunits of the extramembranous F(1) sector of the enzyme, synthesis being driven by rotation of the gamma subunit in the center of the F(1) molecule between the alternating catalytic sites. The H(+) electrochemical potential is thought to drive gamma subunit rotation by first coupling H(+) transport to rotation of an oligomeric rotor of c subunits within the transmembrane F(o) sector.

Coupling proton movements to c-ring rotation in F(1)F(o) ATP synthase: aqueous access channels and helix rotations at the a-c interface.

F(1)F(o) ATP synthases generate ATP by a rotary catalytic mechanism in which H(+) transport is coupled to rotation of a ring of c subunits within the transmembrane sector of the enzyme. Protons bind to and then are released from the aspartyl-61 residue of subunit c at the center of the membrane. Proton access channels to and from aspartyl-61 are thought to form in subunit a of the F(o) sector.