Mechanical rotation of the c subunit oligomer in ATP synthase (F0F1): direct observation
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Published on: September 14, 2014
1Division of Biological Sciences, Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, CREST (Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology) of Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan.
Abstract:
F0F1, found in mitochondria or bacterial membranes, synthesizes adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) coupling with an electrochemical proton gradient and also reversibly hydrolyzes ATP to form the gradient. An actin filament connected to a c subunit oligomer of F0 was able to rotate by using the energy of ATP hydrolysis. The rotary torque produced by the c subunit oligomer reached about 40 piconewton-nanometers, which is similar to that generated by the gamma subunit in the F1 motor. These results suggest that the gamma and c subunits rotate together during ATP hydrolysis and synthesis. Thus, coupled rotation may be essential for energy coupling between proton transport through F0 and ATP hydrolysis or synthesis in F1.
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