title: Evidence for structural integrity in the undecameric c-rings isolated from sodium ATP synthases.
abstract: The Na(+)-translocating ATP synthases from Ilyobacter tartaricus and Propionigenium modestum contain undecameric c subunit rings of unusual stability. These c(11) rings have been isolated from both ATP synthases and crystallized in two dimensions. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy projection maps of the c-rings from both organisms were identical at 7A resolution. Different crystal contacts were induced after treatment of the crystals with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), which is consistent with the binding of the inhibitor to glutamate 65 in the C-terminal helix on the outside of the ring. The c subunits of the isolated c(11) ring of I.tartaricus were modified specifically by incubation with DCCD with kinetics that were indistinguishable from those of the F(1)F(o) holoenzyme. The reaction rate increased with decreasing pH but was lower in the presence of Na(+). From the pH profile of the second-order rate constants, the pK of glutamate 65 was deduced to be 6.6 or 6.2 in the absence or presence of 0.5mM NaCl, respectively. These pK values are identical with those determined for the F(1)F(o) complex. The results indicate that the isolated c-ring retains its native structure, and that the glutamate 65, including binding sites near the middle of the membrane, are accessible to Na(+) from the cytoplasm through access channels within the c-ring itself.
authors.affiliation: ETH-Zentrum, Institut für Mikrobiologie, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Schmelzbergstr. 7, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Matthey
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Ballmoos
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vonck
authors.forename: Tassilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krug von Nidda
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kühlbrandt
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dimroth
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001665:Binding Sites; D003460:Crystallization; D004024:Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D004024:Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide; D012964:Sodium; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases