Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026

Visualization of ATP Synthase Dimers in Mitochondria by Electron Cryo-tomography
Published on: September 14, 2014
Modeling a dehalogenase fold into the 8-A density map for Ca(2+)-ATPase defines a new domain structure
1Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Research, Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA. stokes@saturn.med.nyu.edu
Researchers propose a new structural model for calcium ATPase (Ca2+-ATPase) based on homology with hydrolases. This model reveals a novel domain structure and suggests a mechanism for ATP hydrolysis driving ion transport.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- P-type pumps are crucial for maintaining cellular ion gradients via active transport.
- Previous low-resolution structures lacked detail on cytoplasmic domains of P-type pumps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the detailed architecture of cytoplasmic domains in Ca2+-ATPase.
- To propose a novel structural model for Ca2+-ATPase based on homology.
Main Methods:
- Extended sequence comparisons within the hydrolase superfamily.
- Delineated domains within the 8-Å density map of Ca2+-ATPase.
- Fitted the atomic structure of L-2 haloacid dehalogenase into the Ca2+-ATPase model.
Main Results:
- Identified a new domain structure for Ca2+-ATPase, with the phosphorylation domain adopting a Rossmann fold.
- The model suggests two ATP binding sites at the interface between domains.
- Predicted the configuration of Mg.ATP and proposed a mechanism for initiating domain movements.
Conclusions:
- The proposed model reconciles existing mutagenesis and cross-linking data.
- A novel mechanism involving Mg2+ liganding changes is proposed for coupling ATP hydrolysis to ion transport.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Folding
Conservation of Protein Domains Over Different Proteins
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
Conserved Binding Sites
Binding sites are often located in large pockets, and if their location on a protein’s surface is unknown, it can be predicted using various approaches. The energetic method computationally analyses the...
ATP Synthase: Mechanism
Conservation of Protein Domains
A limited set of protein domains often duplicate and recombine during evolution. These domains can be organized in different combinations to form...
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with cytoskeletal...

