The low resolution structure of subunit
d (Vma6p) of the
Saccharomyces cerevisiae V-ATPase was determined from solution X-ray scattering data. The protein is a boxing glove-shaped molecule consisting of
two distinct domains, with a width of about 6.5 nm and 3.5 nm, respectively. To understand the importance of the N- and C-termini
inside the protein, four truncated forms of subunit
d (
d
11–345,
d
38–345,
d
1–328 and
d
1–298) and mutant subunit
d, with a substitution of Cys329 against Ser, were expressed, and only
d
11–345, containing all six cysteine residues was soluble. The structural properties of
d depends strongly on the presence of a disulfide bond. Changes in response to disulfide formation have been studied by fluorescence-
and CD spectroscopy, and biochemical approaches. Cysteins, involved in disulfide bridges, were analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass
spectrometry. Finally, the solution structure of subunit
d will be discussed in terms of the topological arrangement of the V
1V
O ATPase.
Keywords Vacuolar-type ATPase - V1VO ATPase - V1 ATPase - Vma6p - Subunit d
- Small angle X-ray scattering - A1AO ATP synthase - Subunit C - Peripheral stalk