Nutrition Guide

Gamma subunit of ATP synthase F1 complex forms the central shaft that connects the F0 rotary motor to the F1 catalytic core.

F-ATP synthases (also known as F1F0-ATPase, or H(+)-transporting two-sector ATPase) (EC 3.6.3.14) are composed of two linked complexes: the F1 ATPase complex is the catalytic core and is composed of 5 subunits (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon), while the F0 ATPase complex is the membrane-embedded proton channel that is composed of at least 3 subunits (A-C), nine in mitochondria (A-G, F6, F8).

Both the F1 and F0 complexes are rotary motors that are coupled back-to-back. In the F1 complex, the central gamma subunit forms the rotor inside the cylinder made of the alpha(3)beta(3) subunits, while in the F0 complex, the ring-shaped C subunits forms the rotor. The two rotors rotate in opposite directions, but the F0 rotor is usually stronger, using the force from the proton gradient to push the F1 rotor in reverse in order to drive ATP synthesis[1]. These ATPases can also work in reverse to hydrolyse ATP to create a proton gradient.

The ATPase F1 complex gamma subunit forms the central shaft that connects the F0 rotary motor to the F1 catalytic core. The gamma subunit functions as a rotary motor inside the cylinder formed by the alpha(3)beta(3) subunits in the F1 complex[2]. The best-conserved region of the gamma subunit is its C-terminus, which seems to be essential for assembly and catalysis.

Human gamma subunit of ATP synthase is ATP5C1.

Bacterial antenna complex proteins are main components light-harvesting complexes in photosynthetic bacteria. [1]

In photosynthetic bacteria the antenna complexes function as light-harvesting systems that absorb light radiation and transfer the excitation energy to the reaction centres. The antenna complexes are generally composed of two types of polypeptides (alpha and beta chains); two or three types of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) molecules and some carotenoids[2][3]. Both the alpha and the beta chains of antenna complexes are small proteins of 42 to 68 residues which share a three-domain organization. They are composed of a N-terminal hydrophilic cytoplasmic domain followed by a transmembrane region and a C-terminal hydrophilic periplasmic domain. In the transmembrane region of both chains there is a conserved histidine which is most probably involved in the binding of the magnesium atom of a bacteriochlorophyll group. The beta chains contain an additional conserved histidine which is located at the C-terminal extremity of the cytoplasmic domain and which is also thought to be involved in bacteriochlorophyll-binding.

ATPases (or ATP synthases) are membrane-bound enzyme complexes/ion transporters that combine ATP synthesis and/or hydrolysis with the transport of protons across a membrane. ATPases can harness the energy from a proton gradient, using the flux of ions across the membrane via the ATPase proton channel to drive the synthesis of ATP.

Some ATPases work in reverse, using the energy from the hydrolysis of ATP to create a proton gradient.

There are different types of ATPases, which can differ in function (ATP synthesis and/or hydrolysis), structure (F-, V- and A-ATPases contain rotary motors) and in the type of ions they transport[1][2].
F-ATPases (F1F0-ATPases) in mitochondria, chloroplasts and bacterial plasma membranes are the prime producers of ATP, using the proton gradient generated by oxidative phosphorylation (mitochondria) or photosynthesis (chloroplasts).
V-ATPases (V1V0-ATPases) are primarily found in eukaryotic vacuoles, catalysing ATP hydrolysis to transport solutes and lower pH in organelles.
A-ATPases (A1A0-ATPases) are found in Archaea and function like F-ATPases.
P-ATPases (E1E2-ATPases) are found in bacteria and in eukaryotic plasma membranes and organelles, and function to transport a variety of different ions across membranes.
E-ATPases are cell-surface enzymes that hydrolyse a range of nucleoside triphosphates, including extracellular ATP.

The alpha and beta (or A and B) subunits are found in the F1, V1, and A1 complexes of F-, V- and A-ATPases, respectively, as well as flagellar ATPase and the termination factor Rho. The F-ATPases (or F1F0-ATPases), V-ATPases (or V1V0-ATPases) and A-ATPases (or A1A0-ATPases) are composed of two linked complexes: the F1, V1 or A1 complex contains the catalytic core that synthesizes/hydrolyses ATP, and the F0, V0 or A0 complex that forms the membrane-spanning pore. The F-, V- and A-ATPases all contain rotary motors, one that drives proton translocation across the membrane and one that drives ATP synthesis/hydrolysis[3][4].

In F-ATPases, there are three copies each of the alpha and beta subunits that form the catalytic core of the F1 complex, while the remaining F1 subunits (gamma, delta, epsilon) form part of the stalks. There is a substrate-binding site on each of the alpha and beta subunits, those on the beta subunits being catalytic, while those on the alpha subunits are regulatory. The alpha and beta subunits form a cylinder that is attached to the central stalk. The alpha/beta subunits undergo a sequence of conformational changes leading to the formation of ATP from ADP, which are induced by the rotation of the gamma subunit, itself is driven by the movement of protons through the F0 complex C subunit[5].

In V- and A-ATPases, the alpha/A and beta/B subunits of the V1 or A1 complex are homologous to the alpha and beta subunits in the F1 complex of F-ATPases, except that the alpha subunit is catalytic and the beta subunit is regulatory.

The alpha/A and beta/B subunits can each be divided into three regions, or domains, centred around the ATP-binding pocket, and based on structure and function. The central domain contains the nucleotide-binding residues that make direct contact with the ADP/ATP molecule[6].