Structure and function of H+-ATPase.

(1) Extensive studies on proton-translocating ATPase (H+-ATPase) revealed that H+-ATPase is an energy transforming device universally distributed in membranes of almost all kinds of cells. (2) Crystallization of the catalytic portion (F1) of H+-ATPase showed that F1 is a hexagonal molecule with a central hole. The diameter of F1 is about 90 A and its molecular weight is about 380,000. (3) Use of thermophilic F1 permits the complete reconstitution of F1 from its five subunits (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon) and demonstration of the gate function of the gamma delta epsilon-complex, the catalytic function of beta (supported by alpha and gamma), and the H+-translocating functions of all five subunits. (4) Studies using purified thermostable F0 showed that F0 is an H+-channel portion of H+-ATPase. The direct measurement of H+-flux through F0, sequencing of DCCD-binding protein, and isolation of F1-binding protein are described. (5) The subunit stoichiometry of F1 may be alpha 3 beta 3 gamma delta epsilon. (6) Reconstitution of stable H+-ATPase-liposomes revealed that ATP is directly synthesized by the flow of H+ driven by an electrochemical potential gradient and that H+ is translocated by ATP hydrolysis. This rules out functions for all the hypothetical components that do not belong to H+-ATPase in H+-driven ATP synthesis. The roles of conformation change and other phenomena in ATP synthesis are also discussed.