STRUCTURES OF P-TYPE AND F-TYPE ION PUMPS

P-type ion pumps are large, integral membrane proteins, whereas the F- type ATP synthase is an enormous multiple-subunit complex. Both have b een the focal points of intensive physiological and mechanistic studie s for many years; however, critical information about three-dimensiona l structure has been lacking. During the past year, new crystal forms of both P-type and F-type ATPases were reported. Although the resultin g structures are at medium to low resolution, they provide novel struc tural and functional information, as well as prospects for higher reso lution structures in the foreseeable future.