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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Visualization of ATP Synthase Dimers in Mitochondria by Electron Cryo-tomography
Published on: September 14, 2014
The beta-subunit of pea stem mitochondrial ATP synthase exhibits PPiase activity
Marco Zancani1, Valentino Casolo, Carlo Peresson
1Sezione di Biologia Vegetale, Dipartimento di Biologia ed Economia Agro-Ind., Università di Udine, via Cotonificio 108, Udine 33100, Italy.
Abstract:
A soluble protein with a molecular mass of 55 kDa has been purified from etiolated pea stem mitochondria. The protein exhibits a Mg2+-requiring PPiase activity, with an optimum at pH 9.0, which is not stimulated by monovalent cations, but inhibited by F-, Ca2+, aminomethylenediphosphate and imidodiphosphate. The protein does not cross-react with polyclonal antibodies raised against vacuolar, mitochondrial or soluble PPiases, respectively. Conversely, it cross-reacts with an antibody for the alpha/beta-subunit of the ATP synthase from beef heart mitochondria. The purified protein has been analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and the results, covering the 30% of assigned sequence, indicate that it corresponds to the beta-subunit of the ATP synthase of pea mitochondria. It is suggested that this enzymatic protein may perform a dual function as soluble PPiase or as subunit of the more complex ATP synthase.
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