If ATP synthase had a mutation in the F1 complex portion of the protein, which function of ATP synthase would most likely be affected?

Question

A.  The rotation of the rotor
B.  The flow of protons through the channel
C.  The conversion of ADP and Pi to ATP
D.  The insertion of the enzyme into the membrane

Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
What type of thinking is required?

  Gather Content
  What do you already know about ATP synthase structure and function? What other information is related to the question?

  Choose Answer   Do you have all necessary information to determine which outcome is most likely from a mutation in the F1 part of ATP synthase?

  Reflect on Process
  Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
 

Answer 1

C.  The conversion of ADP and Pi to ATP

Clarify Question
What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        · The question asks you to determine whichfunction of ATP synthase would be affected if the F1 portion of the protein complex became mutated.
What type of thinking is required?
        · You are being asked to analyze the possible outcomes of mutations in the F1 portion of the ATP synthase complex.

  Gather Content
  What do you already know about ATP synthase structure and function? What other information is related to the question?
        · You likely already know that ATP synthase is the enzyme complex that produces ATP via a proton gradient established by the electron transport chain. What you may not realize is that ATP synthase is actually a molecular machine that is comprised of multiple moving parts, each of which contributes to the overall function of ATP synthase.
        · How is the ATP synthase complex structured? Located in the inner mitochondrial membrane, ATP synthase is comprised of a domain that transverses the membrane (F0), and another domain that projects into the mitochondrial matrix (F1). Both F0 and F1 domains of ATP synthase contain multiple protein subunits.
        · Given that information, what outcome do you think would result from a mutation in the F1 domain of ATP synthase?

  Choose Answer   Do you have all necessary information to determine which outcome is most likely from a mutation in the F1 part of ATP synthase?
        · Considering that the F0 domain of ATP synthase transverses the inner mitochondrial membrane, it is more likely to be involved in proton transport than actual ATP synthesis. Plus, remember that ATP synthase rotates, and it rotates within the membrane, so the function of F1, the other domain, is unlikely to act as the rotor or the proton channel. We already know F1 isn’t involved with insertion into the membrane, so that rules out that answer also
        · That leaves the final option as the catalytic domain that connects inorganic phosphate and ADP to create ATP. And since the question asks what would happen if a mutation in the F1 domain occurred, now you have two lines of argument pointing to it being responsible for ADP to ATP conversion

  Reflect on Process
  Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        · Answering this question correctly depended on your ability to analyze the options to determine which function of the F1 ATP synthase domain would be affected by a mutation.         · If you got the correct answer, well done! If you got an incorrect answer, were you aware of the overall structure and function of ATP synthase? Were you able to determine the functions of the F0 and F1 domains? Were you able to infer that mutations in F1 would inhibit the actual process of ATP production?