The alpha 1 beta 1 heterodimer of ATP synthase

The alpha 3 beta 3 hexamer was reconstituted from the alpha and beta subunits of TF1 portion of ATP synthase of thermophilic bacterium (Kagawa et al. (1989) FEBS Lett. 249, 67). The alpha 1 beta 1 heterodimer of ATP synthase was isolated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the alpha 3 beta 3 hexamer in the presence of AT(D)P-Mg. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both bands corresponding to the dimer and hexamer showed ATPase activity. The alpha 1 beta 1 dimer was dissociated into the equal amounts of the alpha and beta monomers by sodium dodecyl sulfate. The alpha and beta monomers were practically inactive. The alpha 2 and beta 2 homodimers were not detected by electrophoresis and HPLC.