Essentials for ATP Synthesis by F1F0ATP Synthases

Christoph von Ballmoos, Alexander Wiedenmann, Peter Dimroth
2009 Annual Review of Biochemistry  
The majority of cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is synthesized by the ubiquitous F 1 F 0 ATP synthase. Power for ATP synthesis derives from an electrochemical proton (or Na + ) gradient, which drives rotation of membranous F 0 motor components. Efficient rotation not only requires a significant driving force ( μH + ), consisting of membrane potential ( ψ) and proton concentration gradient ( pH), but also a high proton concentration at the source P side. In vivo this
more » ... s maintained by dynamic proton movements across and along the surface of the membrane. The torque-generating unit consists of the interface of the rotating c ring and the stator a subunit. Ion translocation through this unit involves a sophisticated interplay between the c-ring binding sites, the stator arginine, and the coupling ions on both sides of the membrane. c-ring rotation is transmitted to the eccentric shaft γ-subunit to elicit conformational changes in the catalytic sites of F 1 , leading to ATP synthesis. 649 Annu. Rev. Biochem. 2009.78:649-672. Downloaded from www.annualreviews.org by New York University -Bobst Library on 11/20/13. For personal use only.
doi:10.1146/annurev.biochem.78.081307.104803 pmid:19489730 fatcat:5lhuzo735jhfzet22brycqz4qy