Abstract:

Theε-subunit is the smallest subunit of chloroplast ATP synthase, and is known to inhibit ATPase activity in isolated CF1-ATPase. As a result ε is sometimes called an inhibitory subunit. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, theε-subunit is essential for the coupling of proton translocation to ATP synthesis (as proton gate). The relation between the structure and function ofε-subunit of ATP synthase in higher plant chloroplast has been studied by molecular biological methods such as site-directed mu-tagenesis and truncations for C- or N-terminus ofε-subunit. The results showed that: (1) Thr42 ofε-subunit is important for its structure and function; (2) compared with theε-subunit in E.. coli, theε-subunit of chloroplast ATP synthase is more sensitive to C- or N-terminus truncations.

高等植物叶绿体A T P 合酶ε亚基的结构与功能

倪张林   石晓冰 沈允钢 魏家绵

（中国科学院上海生命科学研究院上海植物生理研究所， 上海 200032）

摘要： ε基是叶绿体ATP合酶最小的一个亚基,有阻塞ATP合酶的质子通道和抑制其水解ATP活力的两种功能.用定点突变和缺失等分子生物学方法对ε亚基的结构功能进行了研究,结果表明:ε亚基42位上的苏氨酸(Thr42)对维持其结构和功能都很重要.与大肠杆菌ATP合酶相比,叶绿体ATP合酶ε亚基C端和N端的氨基酸残基缺失对其结构功能的影响更为敏感。

关键词： 叶绿体；ATP合酶；ε-亚基；光合磷酸化；点突变；酵母双杂交

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