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Gene duplication as a means for altering H + /ATP ratios during the evolution of F o F 1 ATPases and synthases
Author(s) -
Cross Richard L.,
Taiz Lincoln
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(90)80014-a
Subject(s) - atp synthase , atp hydrolysis , atpase , proton , function (biology) , chemistry , gene duplication , chemiosmosis , biophysics , biochemistry , enzyme , gene , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , physics , quantum mechanics
In the evolution of the F o F 1 family of proton‐translocating membrane complexes, two reversals in function appear to have occurred, first changing it from an ATPase to an ATP synthase and then back again to an ATPase. Here we suggest that with each change in function, the ratio of protons transported per ATP hydrolyzed or synthesized (H + /ATP) was altered in order for the complex to better adapt to its new role. We propose that this was accomplished by gene duplication with partial loss in the number of functional catalytic sites (to increase H + /ATP) or functional proton channels (to decrease H + /ATP). This method of changing the H + /ATP ratio preserved overall structural features of the complex essential to energy coupling.