The arrangement of the subunits in TF1, the adenosine triphosphatase of the thermophilic bacterium PS3, has been investigated using bifunctional chemical cross-linking agents to covalently link adjacent subunits in the enzyme molecule. The cross-linked products resulting from the reaction of the enzyme with 2,2′- and 3,3′-dithiobis(succinimidyl propionate), 3,3′-dithiobis(sulfosuccinimidyl propionate), le disuccinimidyl tartarate, le diméthyl subérimidate, le 1-éthyl-3[3-diméthylamino)propyl]car- and 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sufate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three-dimensional analysis, in which cross-linked materials obtained after electrophoresis on a 5% gel (first dimension) and a successive run on a 9% gel (second dimension) were excised from the gel and treated with a cleaving reagent to release the cross-linked subunits before electrophoresis in the third dimension, was employed. The following cross-linked dimers were identified: αα, αβ, αγ, βγ, αδ, and γε. Two trimers, α2δ and γαδ, were recognized. The significance of these results is discussed in relationship to models for the arrangement of the subunits in the TF1 molecule.
Purified proton conductor in proton translocating adenosine triphosphatase of a thermophilic bacterium.
