Structure and Regulation of the V-ATPases

The V-ATPases are ATP-dependent proton pumps present in both intracellular compartments and the plasma membrane. They function in such processes as membrane traffic, protein degradation, renal acidification, bone resorption and tumor metastasis. The V-ATPases are composed of a peripheral V₁ domain responsible for ATP hydrolysis and an integral V₀ domain that carries out proton transport. Our recent work has focused on structural analysis of the V-ATPase complex using both cysteine-mediated cross-linking and electron microscopy. For cross-linking studies, unique cysteine residues were introduced into structurally defined sites within the B and C subunits and used as points of attachment for the photoactivated cross-linking reagent MBP. Disulfide mediated cross-linking has also been used to define helical contact surfaces between subunits within the integral V₀ domain. With respect to regulation of V-ATPase activity, we have investigated the role that intracellular environment, luminal pH and a unique domain of the catalytic A subunit play in controlling reversible dissociation in vivo.