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F1F0 ATPase; b Subunit; Mass spectrometric identification; Electron microscopic single particle analysis; Aquifex aeolicus
Abstract:
The F1F0 ATP synthase has been purified from the hyperthermophilic eubacterium Aquifex aeolicus and characterized. Its subunits have been identified by MALDI-mass spectrometry through peptide mass fingerprinting and MS/MS. It contains the canonical subunits alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon of F1 and subunits a and c of F0. Two versions of the b subunit were found, which show a low sequence homology to each other. Most likely they form a heterodimer. An electron microscopic single particle analysis revealed clear structural details, including two stalks connecting F1 and F0. In several orientations the central stalk appears to be tilted and/or kinked. It is unclear whether there is a direct connection between the peripheral stalk and the delta subunit.
