ATP合酶：一个最小的蛋白质分子转动马达

ATP Synthase: the World's Tiniest Rotary Protein Motor

ATP合酶,又称F_0F_1-ATP酶在细胞内催化能源物质ATP的合成。在呼吸或光合作用过程中通过电子传递链释放的能量先转换为跨膜质子(H^+)梯差,之后质子流顺质子梯差通过ATP合酶可以使ADP+Pi合成ATP。ATP合酶主要由两部分组成：水溶性的F_1复合体与疏水跨膜部分F_0,两者都是分子转动马达。在离体情况下,ATP水解可驱动F_1转动,跨膜质子流则可使F_0进行转动。F_0与F_1整合后形成ATP合酶具有合成ATP的功能,ATP合酶的转动与其合成ATP相偶联的机理研究正在逐步深入。

ATP synthase (also called the F_0F_1-ATPase) synthesizes cellular ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate. The energy for ATP synthesis is provided from downhill proton transport along the proton gradient across membranes. This potential is formed by the electron transfer chains of respiration or photosynthesis. ATP synthase is composed of a water-soluble protein complex of F_1 and a hydrophobic transmembrane portion F_0. Both of them are rotary motors (an ATP-driven F_1 motor and a proton-driven F_0 motor). The mechanisms by which rotation and catalysis are coupled in the ATP synthase are being unraveled at molecular level.