Isolation of a complete A1AO ATP synthase comprising nine subunits from the hyperthermophile Methanococcus jannaschii.
Archaeal A(1)A(O) ATP synthase/ATPase operons are highly conserved among species and comprise at least nine genes encoding structural proteins. However, all A(1)A(O) ATPase preparations reported to date contained only three to six subunits and, therefore, the study of this unique class of secondary energy converters is still in its infancy. To improve the quality of A(1)A(O) ATPase preparations, we chose the hyperthermophilic, methanogenic archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii as a model organism. Individual subunits of the A(1)A(O) ATPase from M. jannaschii were produced in E. coli, purified, and antibodies were raised. The antibodies enabled the development of a protocol ensuring purification of the entire nine-subunit A(1)A(O) ATPase. The ATPase was solubilized from membranes of M. jannaschii by Triton X-100 and purified to apparent homogeneity by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. Electron micrographs revealed the A(1) and A(O) domains and the central stalk, but also additional masses which could represent a second stalk. Inhibitor studies were used to demonstrate that the A(1) and A(O) domains are functionally coupled. This is the first description of an A(1)A(O) ATPase preparation in which the two domains (A(1) and A(O)) are fully conserved and functionally coupled.
Lingl
Astrid
A
Microbiology Section, Department of Biology I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Maria-Ward-Strasse 1a, 80638 Munich, Germany.
Huber
Harald
H
Stetter
Karl O
KO
Mayer
Frank
F
Kellermann
Josef
J
Müller
Volker
V
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000737:chemistry; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry; D001105:Archaea / Q000201:enzymology; D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002384:Catalysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D003902:Detergents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007700:Kinetics; D017017:Methanococcus / Q000201:enzymology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008957:Models, Genetic; D017830:Octoxynol / Q000494:pharmacology; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013395:Sucrose / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D003902:Detergents; D010455:Peptides; D013395:Sucrose; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D017830:Octoxynol; D004247:DNA; C113203:A1A0 ATPase, Methanosarcina mazei; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases