title: The uncA gene codes for the alpha-subunit of the adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli. Electrophoretic analysis of uncA mutant strains.
abstract: Four mutant strains of Escherichia coli which lack membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatase activity were shown by genetic-complementation tests to carry mutations in the uncA gene. A soluble inactive F1-ATPase aggregate was released from the membranes of three of the uncA mutant strains by low-ionic-strength washing, and purified by procedures developed for the purification of F1-ATPase from normal strains. Analysis of the subunit structure by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that the F1-ATPase in strains carrying the uncA401 or uncA453 alleles had a subunit structure indistinguishable from normal F1-ATPase. In contrast, the F1-ATPase from the strain carrying the uncA447 allele contained an alpha-subunit of normal molecular weight, but abnormal net charge. Membranes from strains carrying the uncA450 allele did not have F1-ATPase aggregates that could be solubilized by low-ionic-strength washing. However, a partial dipolid strain carrying both the uncA+ and uncA450 alleles formed an active F1-ATPase aggregate which could be solubilized by low-ionic-strength washing of the membranes and which contained two types of alpha-subunit, one of which was normal and the other had abnormal net charge. It is concluded that the uncA gene codes for the alpha-subunit of the adenosine triphosphatase.
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004586:Electrophoresis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005815:Genetic Code; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases