Role of ATP Sythase in the Cell
Figure 1: ATP Synthase with labeled subunits (Wang 1997)
Figure 1 shows a cartoon of ATP Synthase. The different subunits of the enzyme are labeled in the diagram. The top part of the enzyme contains alternating alpha and beta subunits (3 of each). The gamma subunit is in the center of the alpha and beta subunits, and moves with respect to these subunits, altering the conformation of the alpha-beta pairs as it rotates. The gamma subunit rotates with the epsilon subunit, while the beta and alpha subunit fix the C ring and the alpha-beta subunits in place so that they can not move with respect to each other. The C ring, which can have 10-12 C subunits, is the focus of this research project.