How the N-terminal domain of the OSCP subunit of bovine F1Fo-ATP synthase interacts with the N-terminal region of an alpha subunit.

The peripheral stalk of ATP synthase acts as a stator holding the alpha(3)beta(3) catalytic subcomplex and the membrane subunit a against the torque of the rotating central stalk and attached c ring. In bovine mitochondria, the N-terminal domain of the oligomycin sensitivity conferral protein (OSCP-NT; residues 1-120) anchors one end of the peripheral stalk to the N-terminal tails of one or more alpha subunits of the F(1) subcomplex. Here, we present an NMR characterisation of the interaction between OSCP-NT and a peptide corresponding to residues 1-25 of the alpha-subunit of bovine F(1)-ATPase. The interaction site contains adjoining hydrophobic surfaces of helices 1 and 5 of OSCP-NT binding to hydrophobic side-chains of the alpha-peptide.