The Structure of the CF1 Part of the ATP-Synthase Complex from Chloroplasts

The proton ATP synthase consists of a membrane integrated part, Fo, and a hydrophilic part, F1. F1 is composed of five different subunits: α, β, γ, δ and ε. This chapter focuses on the chloroplast F1 (CF1) structure and discusses the overall shape and dimensions of CF1, shape and size of the various subunits, subunit interactions and conformational changes in the subunit positions related to catalysis. Structural data originate mainly from X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Recently, the structure of F1 from beef heart mitochondria has been determined at 2.8 Å and this structure, although not fully identical to CF1, can be taken as a blueprint for models of the CF1 structure.