Identification of aqueous access residues of the sodium half channel in transmembrane helix 5 of the Fo-a subunit of Propionigenium modestum ATP synthase

Abstract

The Fo-a subunit of the Na+-transporting Fo F1 ATP syn-thase from Propionigenium modestum plays a key role in Na+ transport. It forms half channels that allow Na+ to enter and leave the buried carboxyl group on Fo-c sub-units. The essential Arg residue R226, which faces the carboxyl group of Fo-c subunits in the middle of trans-membrane helix 5 of the Fo-a subunit, separates the cyto-plasmic side and periplasmic half-channels. To elucidate contributions of other amino acid residues of transmem-brane helix 5 using hybrid FoF1 (Fo from P. modestum and F1 from thermophilic Bacillus PS3), 25 residues were individually mutated to Cys, and effects of modification with the SH-modifying agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on ATP synthesis and hydrolysis activity were analyzed. NEM significantly inhibited ATP synthesis and hydrolysis as well as proton pumping activities of A214C, G215C, A218C, I223C (cytoplasmic side from R226), and N230C (periplasmic side from R226) mutants and inhibited ATP synthesis activity of the K219C mutant (cytoplasmic side from R226). Thus, these residues contribute to the integrity of the Na+ half channel, and both half channels are present in the Fo-a subunit.