F1F0 ATP synthase subunit c is a substrate of the novel YidC pathway for membrane protein biogenesis

The Escherichia coli YidC protein belongs to the Oxa1 family of membrane proteins that have been suggested to facilitate the insertion and assembly of membrane proteins either in cooperation with the Sec translocase or as a separate entity. Recently, we have shown that depletion of YidC causes a specific defect in the functional assembly of F1F0 ATP synthase and cytochrome o oxidase. We now demonstrate that the insertion of in vitro-synthesized F1F0 ATP synthase subunit c (F0c) into inner membrane vesicles requires YidC. Insertion is independent of the proton motive force, and proteoliposomes containing only YidC catalyze the membrane insertion of F0c in its native transmembrane topology whereupon it assembles into large oligomers. Co-reconstituted SecYEG has no significant effect on the insertion efficiency. Remarkably, signal recognition particle and its membrane-bound receptor FtsY are not required for the membrane insertion of F0c. In conclusion, a novel membrane protein insertion pathway in E. coli is described in which YidC plays an exclusive role.     

Improved purification for thermophilic F1F0 ATP synthase using n-dodecyl beta-D-maltoside

Here we report a fast, simple purification for thermophilic F1F0 ATP synthase (TF1F0) that utilizes a cocktail of stabilizing reagents and the detergent n-dodecyl beta-D-maltoside to yield enzyme with an ATPase activity of 41 micromol/min/mg, 2.5-fold higher than that previously reported. ATPase activity was 80% inhibited by the F0-reactive reagent dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, indicating that F1-F0 interactions were largely intact. To measure ATP-driven proton pumping activity, purified TF1F0 was incorporated into liposomes, and the ATP-induced change in internal pH was measured using the fluorescent probe pyranine. In the presence of valinomycin, a maximum ATP-driven deltapH of 0.8 units was obtained. To measure ATP synthesis activity, TF1F0 was incorporated into liposomes with the light-dependent proton pump bacteriorhodopsin. Proteoliposomes were illuminated to generate an electrochemical gradient, after which ADP and inorganic phosphate were added to initiate ATP synthesis. A steady state ATP synthesis activity of 490 nmol/min/mg was achieved after an initial approximately 30-min lag phase.     

F0F1 ATP synthase of Streptomycetes: Modulation of activity and oligomycin resistance by protein Ser/Thr kinases

Inverted membrane vesicles of Gram-positive actinobacteria Streptomyces fradiae, S. lividans, and S. avermitilis have been prepared and membrane-bound F₀F₁ ATP synthase has been biochemically characterized. It has been shown that the ATPase activity of membrane-bound F₀F₁ complex is Mg²⁺-dependent and moderately stimulated by high concentrations of Ca²⁺ ions (10–20 mM). The ATPase activity is inhibited by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and oligomycin A, typical F₀F₁ ATPase inhibitors that react with the membrane-bound F₀ complex. The assay of biochemical properties of the F₀F₁ ATPases of Streptomycetes in all cases showed the presence of ATPase populations highly susceptible and insensitive to oligomycin A. The in vitro labeling and inhibitory assay showed that the inverted phospholipid vesicles of S. fradiae contained active membrane-bound Ser/Thr protein kinase(s) phosphorylating the proteins of the F₀F₁ complex. Inhibition of phosphorylation leads to decrease of the ATPase activity and increase of its susceptibility to oligomycin. The in vivo assay confirmed the enhancement of actinobacteria cell sensitivity to oligomycin after inhibition of endogenous phosphorylation. The sequencing of the S. fradiae genes encoding oligomycin-binding A and C subunits of F₀F₁ ATP synthase revealed their close phylogenetic relation to the genes of S. lividans and S. avermitilis.     

Mutagenesis Studies of the F1F0 ATP Synthase b Subunit Membrane Domain

A homodimer of b subunits constitutes the peripheral stalk linking the F₁ and F₀ sectors of the Escherichia coli ATP synthase. Each b subunit has a single-membrane domain. The constraints on the membrane domain have been studied by systematic mutagenesis. Replacement of a segment proximal to the cytoplasmic side of the membrane had minimal impact on F₁F₀ ATP synthase. However, multiple substitutions on the periplasmic side resulted in defects in assembly of the enzyme complex. These mutants had insufficient oxidative phosphorylation to support growth, and biochemical studies showed little F₁F₀ ATPase and no detectable ATP-driven proton pumping activity. Expression of the b _N2A,T6A,Q10A subunit was also oxidative phosphorylation deficient, but the b _N2A,T6A,Q10A protein was incorporated into an F₁F₀ complex. Single amino acid substitutions had minimal reductions in F₁F₀ ATP synthase function. The evidence suggests that the b subunit membrane domain has several sites of interaction contributing to assembly of F₀, and that these interactions are strongest on the periplasmic side of the bilayer.     

Atrazine binds to F1F0-ATP synthase and inhibits mitochondrial function in sperm

Atrazine is a widely used triazine herbicide. Although controversy still exists, a number of recent studies have described its adverse effects on various animals including humans. Of particular interest is its effects on reproductive capacity. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of atrazine, with a focus on its effects on sperm. Here we show evidence that mitochondrial F₁F₀-ATP synthase is a molecular target of atrazine. A series of experiments with sperm and isolated mitochondria suggest that atrazine inhibits mitochondrial function through F₁F₀-ATP synthase. Moreover, affinity purification using atrazine as a ligand demonstrates that F₁F₀-ATP synthase is a major atrazine-binding protein in cells. The inhibitory activity against mitochondria and F₁F₀-ATP synthase is not limited to atrazine but is likely to be applicable to other triazine-based compounds. Thus, our findings may have wide relevance to pharmacology and toxicology.     

Probing conformations of the beta subunit of F0F1-ATP synthase in catalysis

A subcomplex of F0F1-ATP synthase (F0F1), alpha3beta3gamma, was shown to undergo the conformation(s) during ATP hydrolysis in which two of the three beta subunits have the "Closed" conformation simultaneously (CC conformation) [S.P. Tsunoda, E. Muneyuki, T. Amano, M. Yoshida, H. Noji, Cross-linking of two beta subunits in the closed conformation in F1-ATPase, J. Biol. Chem. 274 (1999) 5701-5706]. This was examined by the inter-subunit disulfide cross-linking between two mutant beta(I386C)s that was formed readily only when the enzyme was in the CC conformation. Here, we adopted the same method for the holoenzyme F0F1 from Bacillus PS3 and found that the CC conformation was generated during ATP hydrolysis but barely during ATP synthesis. The experiments using F0F1 with the epsilon subunit lacking C-terminal helices further suggest that this difference is related to dynamic nature of the epsilon subunit and that ATP synthesis is accelerated when it takes the pathway involving the CC conformation.     

Evolutionary relationship between Enterobacteriaceae: comparison of the ATP synthases (F1F0) of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae

The ATP synthase complex of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KF₁F₀) has been purified and characterized. SDS-gel electrophoresis of the purified F₁F₀ complexes revealed an identical subunit pattern for E. coli (EF₁F₀) and K. pneumoniae. Antibodies raised against EF₁ complex and purified EF₀ subunits recognized the corresponding polypeptides of EF₁F₀ and KF₁F₀ in immunoblot analysis. Protease digestion of the individual subunits generated an identical cleavage pattern for subunits , , , , a, and c of both enzymes. Only for subunit different cleavage products were obtained. The isolated subunit c of both organisms showed only a slight deviation in the amino acid composition. These data suggest that extensive homologies exist in primary and secondary structure of both ATP synthase complexes reflecting a close phylogenetic relationship between the two enterobacteric tribes.Abbreviations ACMA 9-amino-6-chloro-2-methoxyacridine - DCCD N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - TTFB 4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-2-trifluoromethylbenzimidazole     

Kinetic studies of ATP synthase: The case for the positional change mechanism

The mitochondrial ATP synthases shares many structural and kinetic properties with bacterial and chloroplast ATP synthases. These enzymes transduce the energy contained in the membrane's electrochemical proton gradients into the energy required for synthesis of high-energy phosphate bonds. The unusual three-fold symmetry of the hydrophilic domain, F₁, of all these synthases is striking. Each F₁ has three identical subunits and three identical subunits as well as three additional subunits present as single copies. The catalytic site for synthesis is undoubtedly contained in the subunit or an , interface, and thus each enzyme appears to contain three identical catalytic sites. This review summarizes recent isotopic and kinetic evidence in favour of the concept, originally proposed by Boyer and coworkers, that energy from the proton gradient is exerted not directly for the reaction at the catalytic site, but rather to release product from a single catalytic site. A modification of this binding change hypotheses is favored by recent data which suggest that the binding change is due to a positional change in all three subunits relative to the remaining subunits of F₁ and F₀ and that the vector of rotation is influenced by energy. The positional change, or rotation, appears to be the slow step in the process of catalysis and it is accelerated in all F₁F₀ ATPases studied by substrate binding and by the proton gradient. However, in the mammalian mitochondrial enzyme, other types of allosteric rate regulation not yet fully elucidated seem important as well.     

Low resolution structure of subunit b (b (22-156)) of Escherichia coli F(1)F(O) ATP synthase in solution and the b-delta assembly

The first low resolution solution structure of the soluble domain of subunit b (b _22–156) of the Escherichia coli F₁F_O ATPsynthase was determined from small-angle X-ray scattering data. The dimeric protein has a boomerang-like shape with a total length of 16.2 ± 0.3 nm. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) shows that the protein binds effectively to the subunit δ, confirming their described neighborhood. Using the recombinant C-terminal domain (δ_91–177) of subunit δ and the C-terminal peptides of subunit b, b _120–140 and b _140–156, FCS titration experiments were performed to assign the segments involved in δ–b assembly. These data identify the very C-terminal tail b _140–156 to interact with δ_91–177. The novel 3D structure of this peptide has been determined by NMR spectroscopy. The molecule adopts a stable helix formation in solution with a flexible tail between amino acid 140 to 145.     

Iron transport by proteoliposomes containing mitochondrial F1Fo ATP synthase isolated from rat heart

In this work, we present evidence of Fe²⁺ transport by rat heart mitochondrial F₁F_o ATP synthase. Iron uptake by the vesicles containing the enzyme was concentration- and temperature-dependent, with an optimum temperature of 37 °C. Both ATP and ADP stimulated iron uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas AMP, AMPPCP, and mADP did not. Inhibitors of the enzyme, oligomycin, and resveratrol similarly blocked iron transport. The iron uptake was confirmed by inhibition using specific antibodies against the α, β, and c subunits of the enzyme. Interestingly, slight transport of common divalent and trivalent metal ions such as Mg⁺², Ca⁺², Mn⁺², Zn⁺², Cu⁺², Fe⁺³, and Al⁺³ was observed. Moreover, Cu⁺², even in the nM range, inhibited iron uptake and attained maximum inhibition of approximately 56%. Inorganic phosphate (Pi) in the medium exerted an opposite effect depending on the type of adenosine nucleotide, which was suppressed with ATP, but enhanced with ADP. A similarly stimulating effect of ATP and ADP with an inverse effect of Pi suggests that the activity of ATPase and ATP synthase may be associated with iron uptake in a different manner, probably via antiport of H⁺.     

The native F0F1-inhibitor protein complex from beef heart mitochondria and its reconstitution in liposomes

A functional F₀F₁ ATP synthase that contains the endogenous inhibitor protein (F₀F₁I) was isolated by the use of two combined techniques [Adolfsen, R., McClung, J.A., and Moudrianakis, E. N. (1975).Biochemistry 14, 1727–1735; Dreyfus, G., Celis, H., and Ramirez, J. (1984).Anal. Biochem. 142, 215–220]. The preparation is composed of 18 subunits as judged by SDS-PAGE. A steady-state kinetic analysis of the latent ATP synthase complex at various concentrations of ATP showed aV _max of 1.28mol min^–1 mg^–1, whereas theV _max of the complex without the inhibitor was 8.3mol min^–1 mg^–1. In contrast, theK _m for Mg-ATP of F₀F₁ I was 148M, comparable to theK _m value of 142M of the F₀F₁ complex devoid of IF₁. The hydrolytic activity of the F₀F₁I increased severalfold by incubation at 60C at pH 6.8, reaching a maximal ATPase activity of 9.5mol min^–1 mg^–1; at pH 9.0 a rapid increase in the specific activity of hydrolysis was followed by a sharp drop in activity. The latent ATP synthase was reconstituted into liposomes by means of a column filtration method. The proteoliposomes showed ATP-Pi exchange activity which responded to phosphate concentration and was sensitive to energy transfer inhibitors like oligomycin and the uncouplerp-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone.     

The molecular mechanism of ATP synthesis by F1F0-ATP synthase

ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation and photophosphorylation, catalyzed by F₁F₀-ATP synthase, is the fundamental means of cell energy production. Earlier mutagenesis studies had gone some way to describing the mechanism. More recently, several X-ray structures at atomic resolution have pictured the catalytic sites, and real-time video recordings of subunit rotation have left no doubt of the nature of energy coupling between the transmembrane proton gradient and the catalytic sites in this extraordinary molecular motor. Nonetheless, the molecular events that are required to accomplish the chemical synthesis of ATP remain undefined. In this review we summarize current state of knowledge and present a hypothesis for the molecular mechanism of ATP synthesis.     

Biochemical and electron microscopic characterization of the F1F0 ATP synthase from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus

The F(1)F(0) ATP synthase has been purified from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus and characterized. Its subunits have been identified by MALDI-mass spectrometry through peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS. It contains the canonical subunits alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon of F(1) and subunits a and c of F(0). Two versions of the b subunit were found, which show a low sequence homology to each other. Most likely they form a heterodimer. An electron microscopic single particle analysis revealed clear structural details, including two stalks connecting F(1) and F(0). In several orientations the central stalk appears to be tilted and/or kinked. It is unclear whether there is a direct connection between the peripheral stalk and the delta subunit.     

H+ transport and coupling by the F0 sector of the ATP synthase: Insights into the molecular mechanism of function

The F₀ sector of the ATP synthase complex facilitates proton translocation through the membrane, and via interaction with the F₁ sector, couples proton transport to ATP synthesis. The molecular mechanism of function is being probed by a combination of mutant analysis and structural biochemistry, and recent progress on theEscherichia coli F₀ sector is reviewed here. TheE. coli F₀ is composed of three types of subunits (a, b, andc) and current information on their folding and organization in F₀ is reviewed. The structure of purified subunitc in chloroform-methanol-H₂O resembles that in native F₀, and progress in determining the structure by NMR methods is reviewed. Genetic experiments suggest that the two helices of subunitc must interact as a functional unit around an essential carboxyl group as protons are transported. In addition, a unique class of suppressor mutations identify a transmembrane helix of subunita that is proposed to interact with the bihelical unit of subunitc during proton transport. The role of multiple units of subunitc in coupling proton translocation to ATP synthesis is considered. The special roles of Asp61 of subunitc and Arg210 of subunita in proton translocation are also discussed.     

The Inhibitor Protein (IF1) of the F1F0-ATPase Modulates Human Osteosarcoma Cell Bioenergetics

The bioenergetics of IF₁ transiently silenced cancer cells has been extensively investigated, but the role of IF₁ (the natural inhibitor protein of F₁F₀-ATPase) in cancer cell metabolism is still uncertain. To shed light on this issue, we established a method to prepare stably IF₁-silenced human osteosarcoma clones and explored the bioenergetics of IF₁ null cancer cells. We showed that IF₁-silenced cells proliferate normally, consume glucose, and release lactate as controls do, and contain a normal steady-state ATP level. However, IF₁-silenced cells displayed an enhanced steady-state mitochondrial membrane potential and consistently showed a reduced ADP-stimulated respiration rate. In the parental cells (i.e. control cells containing IF₁) the inhibitor protein was found to be associated with the dimeric form of the ATP synthase complex, therefore we propose that the interaction of IF₁ with the complex either directly, by increasing the catalytic activity of the enzyme, or indirectly, by improving the structure of mitochondrial cristae, can increase the oxidative phosphorylation rate in osteosarcoma cells grown under normoxic conditions.     

Properties of Bound Inorganic Phosphate on Bovine Mitochondrial F1F0-ATP Synthase

Beef-heart mitochondrial F₁F₀-ATP synthase contained six molecules of bound inorganic phosphate (P_i). This phosphate exchanged completely with exogenous ³²P_i when the enzyme was exposed to 30% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and then returned to a DMSO-free buffer (Beharry and Bragg 2001). Only two molecules were replaced by ³²P_i when the enzyme was not pretreated with DMSO. These two molecules of ³²P_i were not displaced from the enzyme by the treatment with 1 mM ATP. Similarly, two molecules of bound ³²P_i remained on the DMSO-pretreated enzyme following addition of ATP, that is, four molecules of ³²P_i were displaced by ATP. The ATP-resistant ³²P_i was removed from the enzyme by pyrophosphate. It is proposed that these molecules of ³²P_i are bound at an unfilled adenine nucleotide-binding noncatalytic site on the enzyme. Brief exposure of the enzyme loaded with two molecules of ³²P_i to DMSO, followed by removal of the DMSO, resulted in the loss of the bound ³²P_i and in the formation of two molecules of bound ATP from exogenous ADP. A third catalytic site on the enzyme was occupied by ATP, which could undergo a P_i ATP exchange reaction with bound P_i The presence of two catalytic sites containing bound P_i is consistent with the X-ray crystallographic structure of F₁ (Bianchet, et al., 1998). Thus, five of the six molecules of bound P_i were accounted for. Three molecules of bound P_i were at catalytic sites and participated in ATP synthesis or P_i ATP exchange. Two other molecules of bound P_i were present at a noncatalytic adenine nucleotide-binding site. The location and role of the remaining molecule of bound P_i remains to be established. We were unable to demonstrate, using chemical modification of sulfhydryl groups by iodoacetic acid, any gross difference in the conformation of F₁F₀ in DMSO-containing compared with DMSO-free buffers.     

Functional and stoichiometric analysis of subunit e in bovine heart mitochondrial F<Subscript>0</Subscript>F<Subscript>1</Subscript>ATP synthase

The role of the integral inner membrane subunit e in self-association of F₀F₁ATP synthase from bovine heart mitochondria was analyzed by in situ limited proteolysis, blue native PAGE/iterative SDS-PAGE, and LC-MS/MS. Selective degradation of subunit e, without disrupting membrane integrity or ATPase capacity, altered the oligomeric distribution of F₀F₁ATP synthase, by eliminating oligomers and reducing dimers in favor of monomers. The stoichiometry of subunit e was determined by a quantitative MS-based proteomics approach, using synthetic isotope-labelled reference peptides IAQL*EEVK, VYGVGSL*ALYEK, and ELAEAQEDTIL*K to quantify the b, γ and e subunits, respectively. Accuracy of the method was demonstrated by confirming the 1:1 stoichiometry of subunits γ and b. Altogether, the results indicate that the integrity of a unique copy of subunit e is essential for self-association of mammalian F₀F₁ATP synthase. Elena Bisetto and Paola Picotti contributed equally to this work.     

Effects of mutations in the beta subunit hinge domain on ATP synthase F1 sector rotation: interaction between Ser 174 and Ile 163

A complex of γ, ε, and c subunits rotates in ATP synthase (F_oF₁) coupling with proton transport. Replacement of βSer174 by Phe in β-sheet4 of the β subunit (βS174F) caused slow γ subunit revolution of the F₁ sector, consistent with the decreased ATPase activity [M. Nakanishi-Matsui, S. Kashiwagi, T. Ubukata, A. Iwamoto-Kihara, Y. Wada, M. Futai, Rotational catalysis of Escherichia coli ATP synthase F1 sector. Stochastic fluctuation and a key domain of the β subunit, J. Biol. Chem. 282 (2007) 20698-20704]. Modeling of the domain including β-sheet4 and α-helixB predicted that the mutant βPhe174 residue undergoes strong and weak hydrophobic interactions with βIle163 and βIle166, respectively. Supporting this prediction, the replacement of βIle163 in α-helixB by Ala partially suppressed the βS174F mutation: in the double mutant, the revolution speed and ATPase activity recovered to about half of the levels in the wild-type. Replacement of βIle166 by Ala lowered the revolution speed and ATPase activity to the same levels as in βS174F. Consistent with the weak hydrophobic interaction, βIle166 to Ala mutation did not suppress βS174F. Importance of the hinge domain [phosphate-binding loop (P-loop)/α-helixB/loop/β-sheet4, βPhe148-βGly186] as to driving rotational catalysis is discussed.     

Caenorhabditis elegans MAI-1 protein, which is similar to mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor (IF1), can inhibit yeast F0F1-ATPase but cannot be transported to yeast mitochondria

In Caenorhabditis elegans, two proteins that are similar to mitochondrial ATPase inhibitor protein (IF₁) have been found and named MAI-1 and MAI-2. In this study, we overexpressed and purified both the proteins and examined their properties. Circular dichroism spectra indicated that both the MAI-1 and MAI-2 predominantly consisted of β- and random structure, and in contrast to mammalian IF₁, α-helixes were barely detected. Both MAI-1 and MAI-2 could inhibit yeast F₀F₁-ATPase, but the inhibition by MAI-1 was pH-independent. MAI-2-GFP fusion protein was transported to yeast mitochondria, but MAI-1-GFP was not. These results indicate that the MAI-2 is _{C. elegans} IF₁. MAI-1 seems to be a cytosolic protein and may regulate cytosolic ATPase(s).