Temperature-sensitive mutations at the carboxy terminus of the a subunit of the Escherichia coli F1F0 ATP synthase

Abstract

Mutations were constructed in the a subunit of the F1F0 ATP synthase from Escherichia coli. Truncated forms of this subunit showed a temperature sensitivity phenotype. We conclude that the carboxy terminus of the a subunit is not involved directly with proton translocation but that it has an important structural role.