title: Subunit interactions of Escherichia coli F1-ATPase: mutants of the gamma subunits defective in interaction with the epsilon subunit isolated by the yeast two-hybrid system.
abstract: Previously, we established a method to detect subunit interactions of F1-ATPase by the yeast two-hybrid system (Moritani, C., et al. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1274, 67-72, 1996). Here, we isolated mutants of the gamma subunits defective in interaction with the epsilon subunit by this new procedure to study the molecular basis of coupling mechanisms of the F1F0-ATPase. Based on the intensities of the reporter gene expression in this system, five mutants of the gamma subunit with different levels of gamma-epsilon interactions were isolated and their single base substitutions were determined. Mutants with a substitution of Pro-55 for Leu, Thr-102 for Met, Val-141 for Asp, or Gln-235 for Leu exhibited decreased reporter gene expression, suggesting decreased levels of interaction, while Asp-85 for Gly mutation caused a higher level of expression, suggesting increased interaction. Among these point mutations, G85D, M102T, or D141V mutations were introduced into the gamma subunit gene in the plasmid carrying whole unc operon. Transformants carrying a deletion mutant of the whole unc operon with these expression plasmids were analyzed. Mutations M102T and D141V with decreased gamma-epsilon interaction caused increases of membrane-bound F1-ATPase activity and proton pumping activity, while G85D with increased gamma-epsilon interaction exhibited lower levels of F1-ATPase activity in the membranes. Molecular assembly of the F1 subunits on the mutant membranes detected by Western blotting exhibited no defect for all three mutants. These results suggested that the correlation between the ATPase activity and gamma-epsilon interaction is reciprocal and this interaction may regulate the ATPase activity. The topological and functional importance of Gly-85, Met-102, and Asp-141 together with Leu-55 and Leu-235 in gamma-epsilon interaction is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Okayama University, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moritani-Otsuka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005973:Glutamine; D007700:Kinetics; D007930:Leucine; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008715:Methionine; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009876:Operon; D010957:Plasmids; D011392:Proline; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013912:Threonine; D014633:Valine; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D005973:Glutamine; D013912:Threonine; D011392:Proline; D008715:Methionine; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D007930:Leucine; D014633:Valine