TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MUTATIONS AT THE CARBOXY TERMINUS OF THE A SUBUNIT OF THE ESCHERICHIA-COLI F1F0 ATP SYNTHASE

Mutations were constructed in the alpha-subunit of the F1F0 ATP synthase from Escherichia coli. Truncated forms of this subunit showed a temperature sensitivity phenotype. We conclude that the carboxy terminus of the alpha-subunit is not involved directly with proton translocation but that it has an important structural role.