Molecular Motors: ATP synthase

Question 1

What are molecular motors ?

Answer 1

• Molecular motors are biological machines
• 3-dimensional structure is critical to their function
• Utilise chemical energy from ATP/GTP to perform mechanical
  work

Question 2

What are some types of molecular motors ?

Answer 2

• Nucleic Acid Motors: Helicases
• Use ATP fuel to perform unwind dsDNA and RNA
• Rotary motors: ATP synthase also called FTPase

Question 3

Where is ATP synthase located ?

Answer 3

On the inner mitochondrial membrane

Question 4

Where else can ATP synthase also be found in?

Answer 4

In bacteria and plants (chloroplast)

Question 5

ATP synthase is actually essential for ?

Answer 5

Cells to survive

Question 6

What can ATP synthase sometimes also be referred as ?

Answer 6

Complex V

Question 7

Defective ATP synthase cause ?

Answer 7

Several diseases in humans

Question 8

What is the structure of ATP Synthase ?

Answer 8

• Composed of two distinct components F1
• The F1 complex is a peripheral membrane protein
• The Fo complex is an integral membrane protein

Question 9

What is F1 composed of?

Answer 9

F1 is composed of three ⍺ and three 𝛃 protein

subunits in the proportion ⍺3𝛃3

Question 10

What is F1 responsible for?

Answer 10

For ATP synthesis by

interacting with 𝞤 and 𝜺 subunits (Stalk)

Question 11

What is Fo composed of?

Answer 11

Three subunits, a, b and c

Question 12

Explain Subunit c ?

Answer 12

This is a small (Mw 8 kDa) and extremely hydrophobic protein

Question 13

What does the subunit c consists of ?

Answer 13

Two transmembrane
spanning helices with a small loop extending
into the matrix