Cross-linking of minor subunits in Ca2+, Mg2+-activated ATPase of Escherichia coli

Chemical crosslinking of alpha subunits in the F1 adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli

The arrangement of the subunits in the F1 adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli has been investigated using bifunctional chemical crosslinking agents to covalently link adjacent subunits in the enzyme molecule. The synthesis of the new cleavable crosslinking agent 2,2'-dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate) is described. The crosslinked products resulting from the reaction of the enzyme with 2,2'- and 3,3'-dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate), 3,3'-dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidyl propionate), disuccinimidyl tartrate, dimethyl adipimidate, 1-ethyl-3[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide, and 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane were analyzed by "three-dimensional" polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in which they were resolved first in a two-dimensional system. Following cleavage of the crosslinking bridge in the separated products, the constituent subunits were identified by a further one-dimensional gel electrophoresis step. This procedure greatly improved the precision with which crosslinked subunits could be identified. It largely overcame problems due to abnormal migration of crosslinked species on gel electrophoresis and to the formation of multiple species of the same crosslinked subunit dimers. The following crosslinked subunit dimers were identified: alpha alpha, alpha beta, beta gamma, alpha delta, beta epsilon, and gamma epsilon. The trimer alpha alpha delta was recognized. The formation of alpha alpha over alpha beta dimers was favored when more polar crosslinking agents were used. The constraints placed by the finding of adjacent alpha subunits upon current models for the arrangement of the subunits in the F1 ATPase are discussed.

A cross-linking study of the Ca2+, Mg2+-activated adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli

The solubilized Ca2+,Mg2+-activated adenosine triphosphatase of Escherichia coli is composed of five subunits designated alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon in order of decreasing molecular weight. The subunit structure of the enzyme has been investigated by the use of the cleavable cross-linking agents dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate), methyl-4-mercaptobutyrimidate, dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate, disuccinimidyl tartarate, and cupric 1,10-phenanthrolinate. The products of cross-linking were analyzed by two different two-dimensional gel electrophoresis systems. The following cross-linked subunit dimers were observed: alpha 2, beta 2, alpha beta, alpha delta, beta gamma, beta delta, beta epsilon and gamma epsilon. These results, together with other published data, are discussed in relation to a model of the arrangement of the subunits in the ATPase molecule.