The proton pore in the Escherichia coli F0F1-ATPase: a requirement for arginine at position 210 of the a-subunit

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate three mutations in the uncB gene encoding the a-subunit of the F0 portion of the F0F1-ATPase of Escherichia coli. These mutations directed the substitution of Arg-210 by Gln, or of His-245 by Leu, or of both Lys-167 and Lys-169 by Gln. The mutations were incorporated into plasmids carrying all the structural genes encoding the F0F1-ATPase complex and these plasmids were used to transform strain AN727 (uncB402). Strains carrying either the Arg-210 or His-245 substitutions were unable to grow on succinate as sole carbon source and had uncoupled growth yields. The substitution of Lys-167 and Lys-169 by Gln resulted in a strain with growth characteristics indistinguishable from a normal strain. The properties of the membranes from the Arg-210 or His-245 mutants were essentially identical, both being proton impermeable and both having ATPase activities resistant to the inhibitor DCCD. Furthermore, in both mutants, the F1-ATPase activities were inhibited by about 50% when bound to the membranes. The membrane activities of the mutant with the double lysine change were the same as for a normal strain. The results are discussed in relation to a previously proposed model for the F0 (Cox, G.B., Fimmel, A.L., Gibson, F. and Hatch, L. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 849, 62-69).     

The proton pore in the Escherichia coli F0F1-ATPase: A requirement for arginine at position 210 of the a-subunit

Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate three mutations in the uncB gene encoding the a-subunit of the F₀ portion of the F₀F₁-ATPase of Escherichia coli. These mutations directed the substitution of Arg-210 by Gln, or of His-245 by Leu, or of both Lys-167 and Lys-169 by Gln. The mutations were incorporated into plasmids carrying all the structural genes encoding the F₀F₁-ATPase complex and these plasmids were used to transform strain AN727 (uncB402). Strains carrying either the Arg-210 or His-245 substitutions were unable to grow on succinate as sole carbon source and had uncoupled growth yields. The substitution of Lys-167 and Lys-169 by Gln resulted in a strain with growth characteristics indistinguishable from a normal strain. The properties of the membranes from the Arg-210 or His-245 mutants were essentially identical, both being proton impermeable and both having ATPase activities resistant to the inhibitor DCCD. Furthermore, in both mutants, the F₁-ATPase activities were inhibited by about 50% when bound to the membranes. The membrane activities of the mutant with the double lysine change were the same as for a normal strain. The results are discussed in relation to a previously proposed model for the F₀ (Cox, G.B., Fimmel, A.L., Gibson, F. and Hatch, L. (1986) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 849, 62–69).     

Role of the carboxyl terminal region of H(+)-ATPase (F0F1) a subunit from Escherichia coli.

The effects of amino acid substitutions in the carboxyl terminal region of the H(+)-ATPase a subunit (271 amino acid residues) of Escherichia coli were studied using a defined expression system for uncB genes coded by recombinant plasmids. The a subunits with the mutations, Tyr-263----end, Trp-231----end, Glu-219----Gln, and Arg-210----Lys (or Gln) were fully defective in ATP-dependent proton translocation, and those with Gln-252----Glu (or Leu), His-245----Glu, Pro-230----Leu, and Glu-219----His were partially defective. On the other hand, the phenotypes of the Glu-269----end, Ser-265----Ala (or end), and Tyr-263----Phe mutants were essentially similar to that of the wild-type. These results suggested that seven amino acid residues between Ser-265 and the carboxyl terminus were not required for the functional proton pathway but that all the other residues except Arg-210, Glu-219, and His-245 were required for maintaining the correct conformation of the proton pathway. The results were consistent with a report that Arg-210 is directly involved in proton translocation.     

Mutational analysis of the function of the a-subunit of the F0F1-APPase of Escherichia coli

In a model proposed for the structure of the a-subunit of the Escherichia coli F0F1-ATPase (Howitt, S.M., Gibson, F. and Cox, G.B. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 936, 74-80), a cluster of charged residues, including one arginine and four aspartic acid residues, lie on the periplasmic side of the membrane. On the cytoplasmic side, three pairs of lysine residues and an arginine residue are present. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to investigate the roles of these residues. It was found that none was directly involved in the proton pore. However, the substitutions of Asp-124 or Asp-44 by asparagine or Arg-140 by glutamine had similar effects in that the membranes from such mutants from which the F1-ATPase was removed were proton-impermeable. A combination of the Asp-44 mutation with either the Asp-124 or Arg-140 mutations in the same strain resulted in complete loss of oxidative phosphorylation. It was tentatively concluded that Asp-124 and Arg-140 form a salt bridge, as did Asp-44 with an unknown residue, and these salt bridges were concerned with the maintenance of correct a-subunit structure. Further support for this conclusion was obtained when second site revertants of a Glu-219 to histidine mutant were found to have either histidine or leucine replacing Arg-140. Thus, the lack of the Asp-124/Arg-140 salt bridge might enable repositioning of the helices of the a-subunit such that His-219 becomes a functional component of the proton pore.     

The proton pore of the F0F1-ATPase of Escherichia coli: Ser-206 is not required for proton translocation

A series of experiments was carried out to investigate the role of some polar amino acids in the a-subunit of the ATP synthase of Escherichia coli. Site-directed mutagenesis resulted in the amino acid substitutions Ser-199----Ala, Ser-202----Ala, Ser-206----Ala, Arg-61----Gln or Asp-44----Asn. None of these amino acid substitutions affected the ability of the cells to carry out oxidative phosphorylation. It was concluded therefore that the effect of the substitution of leucine for Ser-206 reported previously (Cain, B.D. and Simoni, R.D. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10043-10050) was due to the presence of the leucine rather than the absence of serine. Even though cells carrying the Asp-44----Asn substitution were able to carry out oxidative phosphorylation, membranes from such cells remained proton-impermeable after removal of the F1-ATPase. It appears likely that the proton pore of the F0 of the ATP synthase of E. coli consists of four amino acids, namely Arg-219, Glu-210 and His-245 of the a-subunit and Asp-61 of the c-subunit.     

F0F1-ATPase gamma subunit mutations perturb the coupling between catalysis and transport.

We introduced mutations to test the function of the conserved amino-terminal region of the gamma subunit from the Escherichia coli ATP synthase (F0F1-ATPase). Plasmid-borne mutant genes were expressed in an uncG strain which is deficient for the gamma subunit (gamma Gln-14-->end). Most of the changes, which were between gamma Ile-19 and gamma Lys-33, gamma Asp-83 and gamma Cys-87, or at gamma Asp-165, had little effect on growth by oxidative phosphorylation, membrane ATPase activity, or H+ pumping. Notable exceptions were gamma Met-23-->Arg or Lys mutations. Strains carrying these mutations grew only very slowly by oxidative phosphorylation. Membranes prepared from the strains had substantial levels of ATPase activity, 100% compared with wild type for gamma Arg-23 and 65% for gamma Lys-23, but formed only 32 and 17%, respectively, of the electrochemical gradient of protons. In contrast, other mutant enzymes with similar ATPase activities (including gamma Met-23-->Asp or Glu) formed H+ gradients like the wild type. Membranes from the gamma Arg-23 and gamma Lys-23 mutants were not passively leaky to protons and had functional F0 sectors. These results suggested that substitution by positively charged side chains at position 23 perturbed the energy coupling. The catalytic sites of the mutant enzymes were still regulated by the electrochemical H+ gradient but were inefficiently coupled to H+ translocation in both ATP-dependent H+ pumping and delta mu H+ driven ATP synthesis.     

Mutational analysis of the glycine-rich region of the c subunit of the Escherichia coli F0F1 ATPase.

Eight strains carrying amino acid substitutions within the c subunit of the F0F1 ATPase of Escherichia coli have been constructed by using site-directed mutagenesis. Three strains carrying the substitutions Gly-23----Leu, Ala-24----Leu, and Gly-38----Leu, which reside in or near the highly conserved glycine-rich region of the c subunit, are unable to carry out oxidative phosphorylation. Membranes prepared from these strains possess basal levels of ATPase activity. In contrast, strains carrying the substitutions Ile-30----Phe, Gly-33----Leu, Gly-58----Leu, and Lys-34----Val and the Lys-34----Val, Glu-37----Gln double substitution were found to possess a coupled phenotype similar to that of the wild type.     

Role of the delta subunit in enhancing proton conduction through the F0 of the Escherichia coli F1F0 ATPase.

We studied the effect of the delta subunit of the Escherichia coli F1 ATPase on the proton permeability of the F0 proton channel synthesized and assembled in vivo. Membranes isolated from an unc deletion strain carrying a plasmid containing the genes for the F0 subunits and the delta subunit were significantly more permeable to protons than membranes isolated from the same strain carrying a plasmid containing the genes for the F0 subunits alone. This increased proton permeability could be blocked by treatment with either dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide or purified F1, both of which block proton conduction through the F0. After reconstitution with purified F1 in vitro, both membrane preparations could couple proton pumping to ATP hydrolysis. These results demonstrate that an interaction between the delta subunit and the F0 during synthesis and assembly produces a significant change in the proton permeability of the F0 proton channel.     

Diethylstilbestrol. A novel F0-directed probe of the mitochondrial proton ATPase

At low concentrations, diethylstilbestrol (DES) is shown to be a potent F0-directed inhibitor of the F0F1-ATPase of rat liver mitochondria. In analogy to other F0-directed inhibitors, DES inhibits both the ATPase and ATP-dependent proton-translocation activities of the purified and membrane bound enzyme. When added at low concentrations with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), a covalent inhibitor, DES acts synergistically to inhibit ATPase activity of the complex. At higher concentrations, DES restores DCCD-inhibited ATPase activity. However, there is no restoration of ATP-dependent proton translocation. Under these conditions DCCD remains covalently bound to the F0F1-ATPase complex and F1 remains bound to Fo. Significantly, when the F0F1-ATPase is inhibited by the Fo-directed inhibitor venturicidin rather than DCCD, DES is also able to restore ATPase activity. In contrast, DES is unable to restore ATPase activity to F0F1 preparations inhibited by the Fo-directed inhibitors oligomycin or tricyclohexyltin. However, combinations of [DES + DCCD] or [DES + venturicidin] can restore ATPase activity to F0F1 preparations inhibited by either oligomycin or tricyclohexyltin. Results presented here indicate that the F0 moiety of the rat liver mitochondrial proton ATPase contains a distinct binding site for DES. In addition, they suggest that at saturating concentrations simultaneous occupancy of the DES binding site and sites for either DCCD or venturicidin promote "uncoupled" ATP hydrolysis.     

Amino acid substitutions in the epsilon-subunit of the F1F0-ATPase of Escherichia coli

A mutant strain of Escherichia coli was isolated in which Gly-48 of the mature epsilon-subunit of the energy-transducing adenosine triphosphatase was replaced by Asp. This amino acid substitution caused inhibition of ATPase activity (about 70%), loss of ATP-dependent proton translocation and lowered oxidative phosphorylation, but did not affect proton translocation through the F0. Purified F1-ATPase from the mutant strain bound to stripped membranes with the same affinity as the normal F1-ATPase. Partial revertant strains were isolated in which Pro-47 of the epsilon-subunit was replaced by Ser or Thr. Pro-47 and Gly-48 are predicted to be residues 2 and 3 in a Type II beta-turn and the Gly-48 to Asp substitution is predicted to cause a change from a Type II to a Type I or III beta-turn. Space-filling models of the beta-turn (residues 46-49) in the normal, mutant and partial revertant epsilon-subunits indicate that the peptide oxygen between Pro-47 and Gly-48 is in a different position to the peptide oxygen between Pro-47 and Asp-48 and that the substitution of Pro-47 by either Ser or Thr restores an oxygen close to the original position. It is suggested that the peptide oxygen between Pro-47 and Gly-48 of the epsilon-subunit is involved either structurally in inter-subunit H-bonding or directly in proton movements through the F1-ATPase.     

E. coli F1-ATPase: site-directed mutagenesis of the beta-subunit

Residues beta Glu-181 and beta Glu-192 of E. coli F1-ATPase (the DCCD-reactive residues) were mutated to Gln. Purified beta Gln-181 F1 showed 7-fold impairment of 'unisite' Pi formation from ATP and a large decrease in affinity for ATP. Thus the beta-181 carboxyl group in normal F1 significantly contributes to catalytic site properties. Also, positive catalytic site cooperativity was attenuated from 5 X 10(4)- to 548-fold in beta Gln-181 F1. In contrast, purified beta Gln-192 F1 showed only 6-fold reduction in 'multisite' ATPase activity. Residues beta Gly-149 and beta Gly-154 were mutated to Ile singly and in combination. These mutations, affecting residues which are strongly conserved in nucleotide-binding proteins, were chosen to hinder conformational motion in a putative 'flexible loop' in beta-subunit. Impairment of purified F1-ATPase ranged from 5 to 61%, with the double mutant F1 less impaired than either single mutant. F1 preparations containing beta Ile-154 showed 2-fold activation after release from membranes, suggesting association with F0 restrained turnover on F1 in these mutants.     

Complementation between uncF alleles affecting assembly of the F1F0-ATPase complex of Escherichia coli.

A mutant affected in the b subunit (coded by the uncF gene) of the F1F0-ATPase in Escherichia coli was isolated by a localized mutagenesis procedure in which a plasmid carrying the unc genes was mutagenized in vivo. The biochemical properties of cells carrying the uncF515 allele were examined in a strain carrying the allele on a multicopy plasmid and a mutator-induced polar unc mutation on the chromosome. The strain carrying the mutant unc allele was uncoupled with respect to oxidative phosphorylation. Membrane-bound ATPase activity was very low or absent, and membranes were somewhat proton permeable. It was concluded that the F0 sector was assembled. Determination of the DNA sequence of the uncF515 allele showed it differed from wild type in that a G----A substitution occurred at position 392, resulting in glycine being replaced by aspartate at position 131. Genetic complementation tests indicated that the uncF515 allele complemented the uncF476 allele (Gly 9----Asp). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of membrane preparations indicated that the uncF515 and uncF476 alleles interrupted assembly of the F1F0-ATPase at different stages.     

Impaired proton conductivity resulting from mutations in the a subunit of F1F0 ATPase in Escherichia coli

Mutations in the uncB gene which encodes the a subunit of F1F0-ATPase in Escherichia coli were isolated and characterized. Eight mutations caused premature polypeptide chain termination. Two mutations were single amino acid substitutions resulting in the replacements of serine 206 with leucine (ser-206----leu) and histidine 245 with tyrosine (his-245----tyr). The ser-206----leu mutation does not alter F1 binding and allows ATP driven membrane energization at a low level. Stripping of F1 from membranes containing the ser-206----leu mutation does not render the membranes permeable to protons indicating impaired proton conductivity. The his-245----tyr mutation also blocks Fo-mediated proton conduction but has normal F1 binding properties. F1 bound to membranes with both ser-206----leu and his-245----tyr mutant a subunits is sensitive to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Apparently, both missense mutations impair proton conduction without altering assembly of the F1F0-ATPase complex. The direct involvement of the a subunit in proton translocation is discussed.     

Mechanically driven proton conduction in single delta-free F0F1-ATPase

In order to observe mechanically driven proton flux in F(0)F(1)-ATPase coupled with artificial driven rotation on F(1) simultaneously, a double channel observation system was established. An artificial delta-free F(0)F(1)-ATPase was constructed with alpha(3), beta(3), epsilon, gamma, and c(n) subunits as rotator and a, b(2) as stator. The chromatophore was immobilized on the glass surface through biotin-streptavidin-biotin system, and the magnetic bead was attached to the beta subunit of delta-free F(0)F(1)-ATPase. The mechanically driven proton flux was indicated by the fluorescence intensity change of fluorescein reference standard (F1300) and recorded by a cooled digital CCD camera. The mechanochemical coupling stoichiometry between F(0) and F(1) is about 4.15 +/- 0.2H(+)/rev when the magnetic field rotated at 0.33 Hz (rps).     

Interaction between Glu-219 and His-245 within the a subunit of F1F0-ATPase in Escherichia coli

Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was used to generate mutations in the a subunit gene (uncB) altering the glutamic acid 219 and the histidine 245 codons. Substitutions of aspartic acid, glutamine, histidine, and leucine for glutamic acid at position 219 neither alter the hydrolytic activity of membrane-bound F1 nor the association of F1 with F0. However, the efficiency of F0-mediated proton translocation was reduced to varying degrees. Replacement of glutamic acid 219 with leucine reduced the ATP-driven proton pumping activity of intact F1F0 to undetectable levels. Roughly 5% of normal activity was observed when glutamine occupied position 219. Surprisingly higher activity, approaching 20% of wild type levels, is seen when histidine replaced glutamic acid 219. The aspartic acid substitution resulted in little loss of enzyme function. Substitution of glutamic acid for histidine 245 results in a reduction to about 45% of normal proton translocation. Construction of the double mutant with substitution of histidine at position 219 and glutamic acid at position 245 yields a complex with better proton translocation than with either mutant separately. The possibility that a functionally important interaction between histidine 245 and glutamic acid 219 of the a subunit may be directly involved in the proton translocation mechanism of F1F0-ATP synthase is discussed.     

Mutations in three of the putative transmembrane helices of subunit a of the Escherichia coli F1F0-ATPase disrupt ATP-driven proton translocation

Three missense mutants in subunit a of the Escherichia coli F1F0-ATPase were isolated and characterized after hydroxylamine mutagenesis of a plasmid carrying the uncB (subunit a) gene. The mutations resulted in Asp119----His, Ser152----Phe, or Gly197----Arg substitutions in subunit a. Function was not completely abolished by any of the mutations. The F0 membrane sector was assembled in all three cases as judged by restoration of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide sensitivity to the F1F0-ATPase. The H+ translocation capacity of F0 was reduced in all three mutants. ATP-driven H+-translocation was also reduced, with the response in the Gly197----Arg mutant being almost nil and that in the Asp119----His and Ser152----Phe mutants less severely affected. The substituted residues are predicted to lie in the second, third, and fourth transmembrane helices suggested in most models for subunit a. The Gly197----Arg mutation lies in a very conserved region of the protein and the substitution may disrupt a structure that is critical to function. The Asp119----His and Ser152----Phe mutations also lie in areas with sequence conservation. A further analysis of randomly generated mutants may provide more information on regions of the protein that are crucial to function. Heterodiploid transformants, carrying plasmids with either the wild-type uncB gene or mutant uncB genes in an uncB (Trp231----stop) background, were characterized biochemically. The truncated subunit a was not detected in membranes of the background strain by Western blotting, and the uncB+ plasmid complemented strain showed normal biochemistry. The uncB mutant genes were shown to cause equivalent defects in either the heterodiploid background configuration, or after incorporation into an otherwise wild-type unc operon. The subunit a (Trp231----stop) background strain was shown to bind F1-ATPase nearly normally despite lacking subunit a in its membrane.     

A conserved glutamate residue exhibits multifunctional catalytic roles in D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolases.

The aldolase catalytic cycle consists of a number of proton transfers that interconvert covalent enzyme intermediates. Glu-187 is a conserved amino acid that is located in the mammalian fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase active site. Its central location, within hydrogen bonding distance of three other conserved active site residues: Lys-146, Glu-189, and Schiff base-forming Lys-229, makes it an ideal candidate for mediating proton transfers. Point mutations, Glu-187--> Gln, Ala, which would inhibit proton transfers significantly, compromise activity. Trapping of enzymatic intermediates in Glu-187 mutants defines a proton transfer role for Glu-187 in substrate cleavage and Schiff base formation. Structural data show that loss of Glu-187 negative charge results in hydrogen bond formation between Lys-146 and Lys-229 consistent with a basic pK(a) for Lys-229 in native enzyme and supporting nucleophilic activation of Lys-229 by Glu-187 during Schiff base formation. The crystal structures also substantiate Glu-187 and Glu-189 as present in ionized form in native enzyme, compatible with their role of catalyzing proton exchange with solvent as indicated from solvent isotope effects. The proton exchange mechanism ensures Glu-187 basicity throughout the catalytic cycle requisite for mediating proton transfer and electrostatic stabilization of ketamine intermediates. Glutamate general base catalysis is a recurrent evolutionary feature of Schiff base0forming aldolases.     

F0F1-ATPase from Vibrio alginolyticus. Subunit composition and proton pumping activity.

An F0F1-ATPase was isolated from the membranes of the marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus. Homology between the subunits of the F0-complexes from E. coli and V. alginolyticus was found using antibodies against subunits a, b and c of the E. coli F0F1-ATPase. The F0F1-complex from V. alginolyticus was reconstituted into proteoliposomes, which were competent in ATP-dependent proton uptake. This process was inhibited by triphenyltin, DCCD, and venturicidin. Na+ did not affect proton translocation.     

F1F0-ATPase from Escherichia coli with mutant F0 subunits. Partial purification and immunoprecipitation of F1F0 complexes

Previously identified mutations in subunits a and b of the F0 sector of the F1F0-ATPase from Escherichia coli are further characterized by isolating detergent-solubilized, partially purified F1F0 complexes from cells bearing these mutations. The composition of the various F1F0 complexes was judged by quantitating the amount of each subunit present in the detergent-solubilized preparations. The composition of the F0 sectors containing altered polypeptides was determined by quantitating the F0 subunits that were immunoprecipitated by antibodies directed against the F1 portion. In this way, the relative amounts of F0 subunits (a, b, c) which survived the isolation procedure bound to F1 were determined for each mutation. This analysis indicates that both missense mutations in subunit a (aser206----leu and ahis245----tyr) resulted in the isolation of F1F0 complexes with normal subunit composition. The nonsense mutation in subunit a (atyr235----end) resulted in isolation of a complex containing the b and c subunits. The bgly131----asp mutation in the b subunit results in an F0 complex which does not assemble or survive the isolation. The isolated F1F0 complex containing the mutation bgly9----asp in the b subunit was defective in two regards: first, a reduction in F1 content relative to F0 and second, the absence of the a subunit. Immunoprecipitations of this preparation demonstrated that F1 interacts with both c and mutant b subunits. A strain carrying the mutation, bgly9----asp, and the compensating suppressor mutation apro240----leu (previously shown to be partially unc+) yielded an F1F0 ++ complex that remained partially defective in F1 binding to F0 but normal in the subunit composition of the F0 sector. The assembly, structure, and function of the F1F0-ATPase is discussed.     

Mutagenesis of the alpha subunit of the F1Fo-ATPase from Escherichia coli. Mutations at Glu-196, Pro-190, and Ser-199

In an attempt to identify amino acid residues involved in proton translocation by the Fo sector of the Escherichia coli F1Fo-ATPase, 16 mutations at the carboxyl-terminal third of the a subunit have been isolated, and their phenotypes have been partially characterized. Thirteen mutations were constructed by "cassette" mutagenesis at two highly conserved residues, aglu196 and apro190. Two mutations were products of oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of a portion of of oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis of a portion of the uncB gene cloned into an M13 vector. One mutation was isolated after in vitro mutagenesis of the entire uncB gene in a plasmid vector with hydroxylamine. Amino acid substitutions for aglu196 (Asp, Gln, His, Asn, Lys, Ala, Ser, Pro) affect ATP-driven proton translocation and passive proton permeability by Fo to varying extents, but do not prevent growth on minimal succinate media. Amino acid substitutions of glutamine or arginine for apro190 affect F1Fo-ATPase assembly and eliminate ATP-driven proton translocation, while the substitution of asparagine at this position does not significantly affect either assembly or proton translocation. The substitution of amino acids threonine or alanine for aser199 causes no detectable phenotypic change from wild type. These and other mutations are discussed in terms of the assembly, structure, and function of the a subunit. It is concluded that aglu196 and apro190 are not obligate components of the proton channel, but that they affect proton translocation indirectly.