title: Does F1-ATPase subunit gamma turn in the wrong direction?
abstract: Analyzing the direction of F1-ATPase subunit gamma rotation, its shape and non-random distribution of surface residues, a mechanism is proposed for how gamma induces the closing/opening of the catalytic sites at beta/alpha interfaces: by keeping contact with the mobile domain of subunits beta at the 'jaw' (D386, the seven consecutive hydrophobic residues and D394/E395), rotating gamma works as a screw conveyer within the barrel of (alpha,beta)3. Mutations of the conveyer contacts are predicted to inhibit. Rotating wheel cartoons illustrate enzyme turnover and conformational changes. Steric clashes, polar interactions and also substrate limitations lead to specific stops. Because it is constructed as a stepper, gamma prevents uncoupling at high energy charge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry of Plants, Ruhr-University Bochum, Biology, 44780, Bochum, Germany. richard.berzborn@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Berzborn
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schlitter
mesh_terms: D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D002417:Cattle; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021122:Protein Subunits; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012399:Rotation; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D021122:Protein Subunits; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C444660:gamma subunit, F(1) ATPase; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases