Assembly of the Escherichia coli FoF1 ATP synthase involves distinct subcomplex formation.
The ATP synthase (FoF1) of Escherichia coli couples the translocation of protons across the cytoplasmic membrane by Fo to ATP synthesis or hydrolysis in F1. Whereas good knowledge of the nanostructure and the rotary mechanism of the ATP synthase is at hand, the assembly pathway of the 22 polypeptide chains present in a stoichiometry of ab2c10α3β3γδϵ has so far not received sufficient attention. In our studies, mutants that synthesize different sets of FoF1 subunits allowed the characterization of individually formed stable subcomplexes. Furthermore, the development of a time-delayed in vivo assembly system enabled the subsequent synthesis of particular missing subunits to allow the formation of functional ATP synthase complexes. These observations form the basis for a model that describes the assembly pathway of the E. coli ATP synthase from pre-formed subcomplexes, thereby avoiding membrane proton permeability by a concomitant assembly of the open H+-translocating unit within a coupled FoF1 complex.
*Department of Microbiology, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 11, D-49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
Gabriele
G
Deckers-Hebestreit
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry; D011522:Protons
D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D021122:Protein Subunits; D011522:Protons; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; C474451:F1F0-ATP synthase; D025261:Mitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPases