title: Electrical power fuels rotary ATP synthase.
abstract: ATP synthesis by F-type ATP synthases consumes energy stored in a transmembrane electrochemical gradient of protons or sodium ions. The electric component of the ion motive force is crucial for ATP synthesis. Here, we incorporate recent results on structure and function of the F(0) domain and present a mechanism for torque generation with the fundamental nature of the membrane potential as driving force in the core.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie der Eidgenössischen Technischen Hochschule, ETH Zentrum, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland. dimroth@micro.biol.ethz.ch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dimroth
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Ballmoos
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaim
mesh_terms: D025243:Bacterial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D007477:Ions; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D012964:Sodium; D025243:Bacterial Proton-Translocating ATPases