Cloning, sequencing and in vivo expression of genes encoding the F_o part of the sodium‐ion‐dependent ATP synthase of Propionigenium modestum in Escherichia coli

A DNA fragment containing the genes encoding subunits of the F_o part of the sodium‐translocating ATPase of Propionigenium modestum was cloned in Escherichia coli and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequences of subunits a, b and c of the P. modestum ATPase were compared with those of the corresponding subunits of proton‐translocating ATPases from other bacteria and chloroplasts. Deletion mutants of E. coli, lacking different genes for ATPase subunits, were transformed with a recombinant plasmid, containing the genes for the subunits a, c, b, δ and part of α of the ATPase of P. modestum. Functionally reconstituted ATPase activity could be demonstrated for the transformants. The identity of the vector containing P. modestum genes was verified by restriction analysis of plasmid DNA.