Purification and biochemical characterization of the F1Fo-ATP synthase from thermoalkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain TA2.A1

We describe here purification and biochemical characterization of the F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase from the thermoalkaliphilic organism Bacillus sp. strain TA2.A1. The purified enzyme produced the typical subunit pattern of an F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, with F(1) subunits alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and epsilon and F(o) subunits a, b, and c. The subunits were identified by N-terminal protein sequencing and mass spectroscopy. A notable feature of the ATP synthase from strain TA2.A1 was its specific blockage in ATP hydrolysis activity. ATPase activity was unmasked by using the detergent lauryldimethylamine oxide (LDAO), which activated ATP hydrolysis >15-fold. This activation was the same for either the F(1)F(o) holoenzyme or the isolated F(1) moiety, and therefore latent ATP hydrolysis activity is an intrinsic property of F(1). After reconstitution into proteoliposomes, the enzyme catalyzed ATP synthesis driven by an artificially induced transmembrane electrical potential (Deltapsi). A transmembrane proton gradient or sodium ion gradient in the absence of Deltapsi was not sufficient to drive ATP synthesis. ATP synthesis was eliminated by the electrogenic protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, while the electroneutral Na(+)/H(+) antiporter monensin had no effect. Neither ATP synthesis nor ATP hydrolysis was stimulated by Na(+) ions, suggesting that protons are the coupling ions of the ATP synthase from strain TA2.A1, as documented previously for mesophilic alkaliphilic Bacillus species. The ATP synthase was specifically modified at its c subunits by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and this modification inhibited ATP synthesis.     

The structural basis for unidirectional rotation of thermoalkaliphilic F1-ATPase

The ATP synthase of the thermoalkaliphilic Bacillus sp. TA2.A1 operates exclusively in ATP synthesis direction. In the crystal structure of the nucleotide-free alpha(3)beta(3)gamma epsilon subcomplex (TA2F(1)) at 3.1 A resolution, all three beta subunits adopt the open beta(E) conformation. The structure shows salt bridges between the helix-turn-helix motif of the C-terminal domain of the beta(E) subunit (residues Asp372 and Asp375) and the N-terminal helix of the gamma subunit (residues Arg9 and Arg10). These electrostatic forces pull the gamma shaft out of the rotational center and impede rotation through steric interference with the beta(E) subunit. Replacement of Arg9 and Arg10 with glutamines eliminates the salt bridges and results in an activation of ATP hydrolysis activity, suggesting that these salt bridges prevent the native enzyme from rotating in ATP hydrolysis direction. A similar bending of the gamma shaft as in the TA2F(1) structure was observed by single-particle analysis of the TA2F(1)F(o) holoenzyme.     

Crystal structure of a protein, structurally related to glycosyltransferases, encoded in the Rhodobacter blasticus atp operon

The F1-ATP synthase atp operon in the proteobacterium Rhodobacter blasticus contains six open reading frames, encoding six hypothetical proteins. Five of these subunits, in the stoichiometry (alphabeta)3gamma delta epsilon make up the catalytic F1-ATP synthase complex similarly in bacteria, chloroplasts and mitochondria. The sixth gene of the R. blasticus atp operon, urf6, shows very little sequence homology to any protein of known structure or function. The gene has previously been cloned, the product (called majastridin) has been heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified to high homogeneity [M. Brosché, I. Kalbina, M. Arnfelt, G. Benito, B.G. Karlsson, A. Strid, Occurrence, overexpression and partial purification of the protein (majastridin) corresponding to the URF6 gene of the Rhodobacter blasticus atp operon, Eur. J. Biochem. 255 (1998) 87-92]. We have solved the X-ray crystal structure and refined a model of majastridin to atomic resolution. Here we present the crystal structures of apo-majastridin and the complex of majastridin with Mn2+ and UDP and show that it has extensive structural similarity to glycosyltransferases (EC 2.4). This is the first structure determined from a new group of distantly related bacterial proteins of at least six members. They share the identical amino acids that bind Mn2+ and a triplet of amino acids in the putative sugar-binding site.     

The noncatalytic site-deficient alpha3beta3gamma subcomplex and FoF1-ATP synthase can continuously catalyse ATP hydrolysis when Pi is present.

We investigated ATP hydrolysis by a mutant (DeltaNC) alpha3beta3gamma subcomplex of F0F1-ATP synthase from the thermophilic Bacillus PS3 that is defective in the noncatalytic nucleotide binding sites. This mutant subcomplex was activated by inorganic phosphate ions (Pi) and did not show continuous ATP hydrolysis activity in the absence of Pi. Pi also activated the wild-type alpha3beta3gamma subcomplex in a similar manner. Sulphate activated wild-type alpha3beta3gamma but not DeltaNC alpha3beta3gamma, indicating that Pi activation did not involve noncatalytic sites but that sulphate activation did. Pi also activated ATP hydrolysis and coupled proton translocation by the wild-type and DeltaNC F0F1-ATP synthases reconstituted into vesicle membranes.     

Inhibition of ATP hydrolysis by thermoalkaliphilic F1Fo-ATP synthase is controlled by the C terminus of the epsilon subunit

The F(1)F(o)-ATP synthases of alkaliphilic bacteria exhibit latent ATPase activity, and for the thermoalkaliphile Bacillus sp. strain TA2.A1, this activity is intrinsic to the F(1) moiety. To study the mechanism of ATPase inhibition, we developed a heterologous expression system in Escherichia coli to produce TA2F(1) complexes from this thermoalkaliphile. Like the native F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase, the recombinant TA2F(1) was blocked in ATP hydrolysis activity, and this activity was stimulated by the detergent lauryldimethylamine oxide. To determine if the C-terminal domain of the epsilon subunit acts as an inhibitor of ATPase activity and if an electrostatic interaction plays a role, a TA2F(1) mutant with either a truncated epsilon subunit [i.e., TA2F(1)(epsilon(DeltaC))] or substitution of basic residues in the second alpha-helix of epsilon with nonpolar alanines [i.e., TA2F(1)(epsilon(6A))] was constructed. Both mutants showed ATP hydrolysis activity at low and high concentrations of ATP. Treatment of the purified F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase and TA2F(1)(epsilon(WT)) complex with proteases revealed that the epsilon subunit was resistant to proteolytic digestion. In contrast, the epsilon subunit of TA2F(1)(epsilon(6A)) was completely degraded by trypsin, indicating that the C-terminal arm was in a conformation where it was no longer protected from proteolytic digestion. In addition, ATPase activity was not further activated by protease treatment when compared to the untreated control, supporting the observation that epsilon was responsible for inhibition of ATPase activity. To study the effect of the alanine substitutions in the epsilon subunit in the entire holoenzyme, we reconstituted recombinant TA2F(1) complexes with F(1)-stripped native membranes of strain TA2.A1. The reconstituted TA2F(o)F(1)(epsilon(WT)) was blocked in ATP hydrolysis and exhibited low levels of ATP-driven proton pumping consistent with the F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase in native membranes. Reconstituted TA2F(o)F(1)(epsilon(6A)) exhibited ATPase activity that correlated with increased ATP-driven proton pumping, confirming that the epsilon subunit also inhibits ATPase activity of TA2F(o)F(1).     

Genes encoding the alpha, gamma, delta, and four F0 subunits of ATP synthase constitute an operon in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120.

A cluster of genes encoding subunits of ATP synthase of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 was cloned, and the nucleotide sequences of the genes were determined. This cluster, denoted atp1, consists of four F0 genes and three F1 genes encoding the subunits a (atpI), c (atpH), b' (atpG), b (atpF), delta (atpD), alpha (aptA), and gamma (atpC) in that order. Closely linked upstream of the ATP synthase subunit genes is an open reading frame denoted gene 1, which is equivalent to the uncI gene of Escherichia coli. The atp1 gene cluster is at least 10 kilobase pairs distant in the genome from apt2, a cluster of genes encoding the beta (atpB) and epsilon (atpE) subunits of the ATP synthase. This two-clustered ATP synthase gene arrangement is intermediate between those found in chloroplasts and E. coli. A unique feature of the Anabaena atp1 cluster is overlap between the coding regions for atpF and atpD. The atp1 cluster is transcribed as a single 7-kilobase polycistronic mRNA that initiates 140 base pairs upstream of gene 1. The deduced translation products for the Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 subunit genes are more similar to chloroplast ATP synthase subunits than to those of E. coli.     

A specific adaptation in the a subunit of thermoalkaliphilic F1FO-ATP synthase enables ATP synthesis at high pH but not at neutral pH values

Analysis of the atp operon from the thermoalkaliphilic Bacillus sp. TA2.A1 and comparison with other atp operons from alkaliphilic bacteria reveals the presence of a conserved lysine residue at position 180 (Bacillus sp. TA2.A1 numbering) within the a subunit of these F(1)F(o)-ATP synthases. We hypothesize that the basic nature of this residue is ideally suited to capture protons from the bulk phase at high pH. To test this hypothesis, a heterologous expression system for the ATP synthase from Bacillus sp. TA2.A1 (TA2F(1)F(o)) was developed in Escherichia coli DK8 (Deltaatp). Amino acid substitutions were made in the a subunit of TA2F(1)F(o) at position 180. Lysine (aK180) was substituted for the basic residues histidine (aK180H) or arginine (aK180R), and the uncharged residue glycine (aK180G). ATP synthesis experiments were performed in ADP plus P(i)-loaded right-side-out membrane vesicles energized by ascorbate-phenazine methosulfate. When these enzyme complexes were examined for their ability to perform ATP synthesis over the pH range from 7.0 to 10.0, TA2F(1)F(o) and aK180R showed a similar pH profile having optimum ATP synthesis rates at pH 9.0-9.5 with no measurable ATP synthesis at pH 7.5. Conversely, aK180H and aK180G showed maximal ATP synthesis at pH values 8.0 and 7.5, respectively. ATP synthesis under these conditions for all enzyme forms was sensitive to DCCD. These data strongly imply that amino acid residue Lys(180) is a specific adaptation within the a subunit of TA2F(1)F(o) to facilitate proton capture at high pH. At pH values near the pK(a) of Lys(180), the trapped protons readily dissociate to reach the subunit c binding sites, but this dissociation is impeded at neutral pH values causing either a blocking of the proposed H(+) channel and/or mechanism of proton translocation, and hence ATP synthesis is inhibited.     

Identification of subunit g of yeast mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase, a protein required for maximal activity of cytochrome c oxidase.

By means of a yeast genome database search, we have identified an open reading frame located on chromosome XVI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that encodes a protein with 53% amino acid similarity to the 11.3-kDa subunit g of bovine mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase. We have designated this ORF ATP20, and its product subunit g. A null mutant strain, constructed by insertion of the HIS3 gene into the coding region of ATP20, retained oxidative phosphorylation function. Assembly of F1F0-ATP synthase in the atp20-null strain was not affected in the absence of subunit g and levels of oligomycin-sensitive ATP hydrolase activity in mitochondria were normal. Immunoprecipitation of F1F0-ATP synthase from mitochondrial lysates prepared from atp20-null cells expressing a variant of subunit g with a hexahistidine motif indicated that this polypeptide was associated with other well-characterized subunits of the yeast complex. Whilst mitochondria isolated from the atp20-null strain had the same oxidative phosphorylation efficiency (ATP : O) as that of the control strain, the atp20-null strain displayed approximately a 30% reduction in both respiratory capacity and ATP synthetic rate. The absence of subunit g also reduced the activity of cytochrome c oxidase, and altered the kinetic control of this complex as demonstrated by experiments titrating ATP synthetic activity with cyanide. These results indicate that subunit g is associated with F1F0-ATP synthase and is required for maximal levels of respiration, ATP synthesis and cytochrome c oxidase activity in yeast.     

Subunit gamma-green fluorescent protein fusions are functionally incorporated into mitochondrial F1F0-ATP synthase,arguing against a rigid cap structure at the top of F1

We have investigated the question of the presence of a cap structure located at the top of the F(1) alpha(3)beta(3) hexamer of the yeast mitochondrial F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase complex. Specifically, we sought to determine whether the putative cap has a rigid structure and occludes the central shaft space formed by the alpha(3)beta(3) hexamer or alternatively whether the cap is more flexible permitting access to the central shaft space under certain conditions. Thus, we sought to establish whether subunit gamma, an essential component of the F(1) central stalk housed within the central shaft space and whose N and C termini would both lie beneath a putative cap, could be fused at its C terminus to green fluorescent protein (GFP) without loss of enzyme function. The GFP moiety serves to report on the integrity and location of fusion proteins containing different length polypeptide linkers between GFP and subunit gamma, as well as being a potential occluding structure in itself. Functional incorporation of subunit gamma-GFP fusions into ATP synthase of yeast cells lacking native subunit gamma was demonstrated by the ability of intact complexes to hydrolyze ATP and retain sensitivity to oligomycin. Our conclusion is that the putative cap structure cannot be an inflexible structure, but must be of a more flexible nature consistent with the accommodation of subunit gamma-GFP fusions within functional ATP synthase complexes.     

The lumazine synthase-riboflavin synthase complex of Bacillus subtilis. Crystallization of reconstituted icosahedral beta-subunit capsids

The lumazine synthase-riboflavin synthase complex (heavy riboflavin synthase) of Bacillus subtilis consists of an icosahedral capsid of 60 beta-subunits containing a core of three alpha-subunits. The enzyme has been purified from the derepressed mutant H 94 of B. subtilis by a novel efficient procedure using column chromatography and preparative crystallization. Beta-Subunits were isolated after dissociation of the enzyme at pH 8.0. Ligand-driven renaturation of beta-subunits yields hollow icosahedral beta 60 capsids which could be crystallized in 1.55 M phosphate, pH 8.7, in three different modifications. A monoclinic modification belongs to space group C2 with unit cell dimensions of a = 235.5, b = 191.2, and c = 165.4 A and alpha = gamma = 90 degrees and beta = 134.4 degrees. The crystals contain two hollow beta 60 particles/unit cell and diffract to approximately 2.8-A resolution. A hexagonal modification has the space group P6(3)22 with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 157.2 and c = 300.8 A and alpha = beta = 90 degrees and gamma = 120 degrees. These cell parameters are similar to the dimensions of hexagonal crystals of native heavy riboflavin synthase (alpha 3 beta 60). A second hexagonal modification shows unit cell parameters of a = b = 156.3 and c = 622.6 A and alpha = beta = 90 degrees and gamma = 120 degrees. The space group of this modification could not be determined unambiguously.     

Structure of bovine mitochondrial F(1)-ATPase inhibited by Mg(2+) ADP and aluminium fluoride

BACKGROUND: The globular domain of the membrane-associated F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase complex can be detached intact as a water-soluble fragment known as F(1)-ATPase. It consists of five different subunits, alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon, assembled with the stoichiometry 3:3:1:1:1. In the crystal structure of bovine F(1)-ATPase determined previously at 2.8 A resolution, the three catalytic beta subunits and the three noncatalytic alpha subunits are arranged alternately around a central alpha-helical coiled coil in the gamma subunit. In the crystals, the catalytic sites have different nucleotide occupancies. One contains the triphosphate form of the nucleotide, the second contains the diphosphate, and the third is unoccupied. Fluoroaluminate complexes have been shown to mimic the transition state in several ATP and GTP hydrolases. In order to understand more about its catalytic mechanism, F(1)-ATPase was inhibited with Mg(2+)ADP and aluminium fluoride and the structure of the inhibited complex was determined by X-ray crystallography. RESULTS: The structure of bovine F(1)-ATPase inhibited with Mg(2+)ADP and aluminium fluoride determined at 2.5 A resolution differs little from the original structure with bound AMP-PNP and ADP. The nucleotide occupancies of the alpha and beta subunits are unchanged except that both aluminium trifluoride and Mg(2+)ADP are bound in the nucleotide-binding site of the beta(DP) subunit. The presence of aluminium fluoride is accompanied by only minor adjustments in the surrounding protein. CONCLUSIONS: The structure appears to mimic a possible transition state. The coordination of the aluminofluoride group has many features in common with other aluminofluoride-NTP hydrolase complexes. Apparently, once nucleotide is bound to the catalytic beta subunit, no additional major structural changes are required for catalysis to occur.     

Role of F0 and F1 subunits in the gating and coupling function of mitochondrial H(+)-ATP synthase. The effect of dithiol reagents.

A study is presented on the role of F0 and F1 subunits in oligomycin-sensitive H+ conduction and energy transfer reactions of bovine heart mitochondrial F0F1 H(+)-ATP synthase. Mild treatment with azodicarboxylic acid bis(dimethylamide) (diamide) enhanced oligomycin-sensitive H+ conduction in submitochondrial particles containing F1 attached to F0. This effect was associated with stimulation of the ATPase activity, with no effect on its inhibition by oligomycin, and depression of the 32Pi-ATP exchange. The stimulatory effect of diamide on H+ conduction decreased in particles from which F1 subunits were partially removed by urea. The stimulatory effect exerted by diamide in the submitochondrial particles with F1 attached to F0 was directly correlated with a decrease of the original electrophoretic bands of a subunit of F0 (F0I-PVP protein) and the gamma subunit of F1, with corresponding formation of their cross-linking product. In F0 liposomes, devoid of gamma subunit, diamide failed to stimulate H+ conduction and to cause disappearance of F0I-PVP protein, unless purified gamma subunit was added back. The addition to F0 liposomes of gamma subunit, but not that of alpha and beta subunits, caused per se inhibition of H+ conduction. It is concluded that F0I-PVP and gamma subunits are directly involved in the gate of the F0F1 H(+)-ATP synthase. Data are also presented indicating contribution to the gate of oligomycin-sensitivity conferral protein and of another protein subunit of F0, F6.     

Halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica contains an Na+-dependent F1F0-ATP synthase with a potential role in salt-stress tolerance

Aphanothece halophytica is a halotolerant alkaliphilic cyanobacterium that can grow in media of up to 3.0 m NaCl and pH 11. Here, we show that in addition to a typical H(+)-ATP synthase, Aphanothece halophytica contains a putative F(1)F(0)-type Na(+)-ATP synthase (ApNa(+)-ATPase) operon (ApNa(+)-atp). The operon consists of nine genes organized in the order of putative subunits β, ε, I, hypothetical protein, a, c, b, α, and γ. Homologous operons could also be found in some cyanobacteria such as Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 and Acaryochloris marina MBIC11017. The ApNa(+)-atp operon was isolated from the A. halophytica genome and transferred into an Escherichia coli mutant DK8 (Δatp) deficient in ATP synthase. The inverted membrane vesicles of E. coli DK8 expressing ApNa(+)-ATPase exhibited Na(+)-dependent ATP hydrolysis activity, which was inhibited by monensin and tributyltin chloride, but not by the protonophore, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP). The Na(+) ion protected the inhibition of ApNa(+)-ATPase by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The ATP synthesis activity was also observed using the Na(+)-loaded inverted membrane vesicles. Expression of the ApNa(+)-atp operon in the heterologous cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 showed its localization in the cytoplasmic membrane fractions and increased tolerance to salt stress. These results indicate that A. halophytica has additional Na(+)-dependent F(1)F(0)-ATPase in the cytoplasmic membrane playing a potential role in salt-stress tolerance.     

Crystallization and preliminary diffraction studies of malate dehydrogenase from Streptomyces aureofaciens

Purified malate dehydrogenase (MDH) of Streptomyces aureofaciens was crystallized either in the absence or in the presence of NADH or NADPH coenzymes by hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. An X-ray study has shown, that MDH crystals belong to space group C222(1) with unit-cell parameters a = 53.2 A, b = 104.6 A, c = 520.0 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90( degrees ), MDH-NADH crystals to space group C2 with unit-cell parameters a = 51.5 A, b = 51.5 A, c = 256 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90( degrees ), and MDH-NADPH crystals to space group C222(1) with unit-cell parameters a = 72, A b = 72 A, c = 520 A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90( degrees ). The crystal of native MDH diffracted to 2.1 A resolution.     

F1F0-ATP synthase. Binding of delta subunit to a 22-residue peptide mimicking the N-terminal region of alpha subunit

The stator in F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase resists strain generated by rotor torque. In Escherichia coli the b(2)delta subunit complex comprises the stator, bound to subunit a in F(0) and to alpha(3)beta(3) hexagon of F(1). Proteolysis and cross-linking had suggested that N-terminal residues of alpha subunit are involved in binding delta. Here we demonstrate that a synthetic peptide consisting of the first 22 residues of alpha ("alpha N1-22") binds specifically to isolated wild-type delta subunit with high affinity (K(d) = 130 nm), accounting for a major portion of the binding energy when delta-depleted F(1) and isolated delta bind together (K(d) = 1.4 nm). Stoichiometry of binding of alpha N1-22 to delta at saturation was 1/1, showing that in intact F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase only one of the three alpha subunits is involved in delta binding. When alpha N1-22 was incubated with delta subunits containing mutations in helices 1 or 5 on the F(1)-binding face of delta, peptide binding was impaired as was binding of delta-depleted F(1). Residues alpha 6-18 are predicted to be helical, and a potential helix capping box occurs at residues alpha 3-8. Circular dichroism measurements showed that alpha N1-22 had significant helical content. Hypothetically a helical region of residues alpha N1-22 packs with helices 1 and 5 on the F(1)-binding face of delta, forming the alpha/delta interface.     

Observation of calcium-dependent unidirectional rotational motion in recombinant photosynthetic F1-ATPase molecules

ATP hydrolysis and synthesis by the F(0)F(1)-ATP synthase are coupled to proton translocation across the membrane in the presence of magnesium. Calcium is known, however, to disrupt this coupling in the photosynthetic enzyme in a unique way: it does not support ATP synthesis, and CaATP hydrolysis is decoupled from any proton translocation, but the membrane does not become leaky to protons. Understanding the molecular basis of these calcium-dependent effects can shed light on the as yet unclear mechanism of coupling between proton transport and rotational catalysis. We show here, using an actin filament gamma-rotation assay, that CaATP is capable of sustaining rotational motion in a highly active hybrid photosynthetic F(1)-ATPase consisting of alpha and beta subunits from Rhodospirillum rubrum and gamma subunit from spinach chloroplasts (alpha(R)(3)beta(R)(3)gamma(C)). The rotation was found to be similar to that induced by MgATP in Escherichia coli F(1)-ATPase molecules. Our results suggest a possible long range pathway that enables the bound CaATP to induce full rotational motion of gamma but might block transmission of this rotational motion into proton translocation by the F(0) part of the ATP synthase.     

The structure of the central stalk in bovine F(1)-ATPase at 2.4 A resolution

The central stalk in ATP synthase, made of gamma, delta and epsilon subunits in the mitochondrial enzyme, is the key rotary element in the enzyme's catalytic mechanism. The gamma subunit penetrates the catalytic (alpha beta)(3) domain and protrudes beneath it, interacting with a ring of c subunits in the membrane that drives rotation of the stalk during ATP synthesis. In other crystals of F(1)-ATPase, the protrusion was disordered, but with crystals of F(1)-ATPase inhibited with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, the complete structure was revealed. The delta and epsilon subunits interact with a Rossmann fold in the gamma subunit, forming a foot. In ATP synthase, this foot interacts with the c-ring and couples the transmembrane proton motive force to catalysis in the (alpha beta)(3) domain.     

Identification of subunits a, b, and c1 from Acetobacterium woodii Na+-F1F0-ATPase. Subunits c1, c2, AND c3 constitute a mixed c-oligomer

The Na(+)-F(1)F(0)-ATPase operon of Acetobacterium woodii was recently shown to contain, among eleven atp genes, those genes that encode subunit a and b, a gene encoding a 16-kDa proteolipid (subunit c(1)), and two genes encoding 8-kDa proteolipids (subunits c(2) and c(3)). Because subunits a, b, and c(1) were not found in previous enzyme preparations, we re-determined the subunit composition of the enzyme. The genes were overproduced, and specific antibodies were raised. Western blots revealed that subunits a, b, and c(1) are produced and localized in the cytoplasmic membrane. Membrane protein complexes were solubilized by dodecylmaltoside and separated by blue native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the ATPase subunits were resolved by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. N-terminal sequence analyses revealed the presence of subunits a, c(2), c(3), b, delta, alpha, gamma, beta, and epsilon. Biochemical and immunological analyses revealed that subunits c(1), c(2), and c(3) are all part of the c-oligomer, the first of a F(1)F(0)-ATPase that contains 8- and 16-kDa proteolipids.