The B subunit of the vacuolar (H+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) has previously be
en shown to participate in nucleotide binding and to possess significa
nt sequence homology with the alpha subunit of the mitochondrial F-ATP
ase, which forms the major portion of the noncatalytic nucleotide bind
ing sites and contributes several residues to the catalytic sites of t
his complex. Based upon the recent x-ray structure of the mitochondria
l F-1 ATPase (Abrahams, J. P., Leslie, A. G., Lutter, R., and Walker,
J. E. (1994) Nature 370, 621-628), site-directed mutagenesis of the ye
ast VMA2 gene has been carried out in a strain containing a deletion o
f this gene. VMA2 encodes the yeast V-ATPase B subunit (Vma2p). Mutati
ons at two residues postulated to be contributed by Vma2p to the catal
ytic site (R381S and Y352S) resulted in a complete loss of ATPase acti
vity and proton transport, with the former having a partial effect on
V-ATPase assembly. Interestingly, substitution of Phe for Tyr-352 had
only minor effects on activity (15-30% inhibition), suggesting the req
uirement for an aromatic ring at this position. Alteration of Tyr-370,
which is postulated to be near the adenine binding pocket; at the non
catalytic sites, to Arg, Phe, or Ser caused a 30-50% inhibition of pro
ton transport and ATPase activity, suggesting that an aromatic ring is
not essential at this position. Finally, mutagenesis of residues in t
he region corresponding to the P-loop of the alpha subunit (H180K; H18
0G, H180D, N181V) also inhibited proton transport and ATPase activity
by approximately 30-50%. None of the mutations in either the putative
adenine binding pocket nor the P-loop region had any effect on the abi
lity of Vma2p to correctly fold nor on the V-ATPase to correctly assem
ble. The significance of these results for the structure and function
of the nucleotide binding sites on the B subunit is discussed.