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The ATP synthase--a splendid molecular machine
1Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-1570, USA.
Annual Review of Biochemistry
|January 1, 1997
Summary
The mitochondrial ATP synthase structure reveals asymmetry and nucleotide binding differences, supporting the binding change mechanism driven by gamma subunit rotation. This research provides insights into enzyme catalysis and proton translocation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Biophysics
Background:
- Mitochondrial ATP synthase (F1F0) is crucial for cellular energy production via ATP synthesis.
- The binding change mechanism and rotational catalysis are key hypotheses for ATP synthase function.
- Understanding the structural basis of ATP hydrolysis and synthesis is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structural basis of the ATP synthase binding change mechanism.
- To investigate the role of internal gamma subunit rotation in catalysis.
- To review structural, kinetic, and mutational data on F1 and F0 subunits.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography of the F1 portion of ATP synthase.
- Structural and mutational analyses of F1 and F0 subunits.
- Kinetic evaluations of catalytic site activity during ATP hydrolysis/synthesis.
Main Results:
- X-ray structure reveals asymmetry and nucleotide binding differences in catalytic beta subunits.
- Evidence supports the binding change mechanism involving gamma subunit internal rotation.
- Physical demonstrations confirm gamma subunit rotation during catalysis.
Conclusions:
- The structural asymmetry and nucleotide binding variations directly support the binding change mechanism.
- Gamma subunit rotation is a fundamental aspect of ATP synthase's rotational catalysis.
- These findings have broader implications for understanding other enzyme-catalyzed reactions.