Structural model of F 1 –ATPase and the implications for rotary catalysis

Abstract
The crystal structure of bovine mitochondrial F 1 –ATPase is described. Several features of the structure are consistent with the binding change mechanism of catalysis, in which binding of substrates induces conformational changes that result in a high degree of cooperativity between the three catalytic sites. Furthermore, the structure also suggests that catalysis is accompanied by a physical rotation of the centrally placed γ–subunit relative to the approximately spherical α 3 β 3 sub–assembly.