The vacuolar (H+)-ATPases--nature's most versatile proton pumps

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2002 Feb;3(2):94-103. doi: 10.1038/nrm729.

Abstract

The pH of intracellular compartments in eukaryotic cells is a carefully controlled parameter that affects many cellular processes, including intracellular membrane transport, prohormone processing and transport of neurotransmitters, as well as the entry of many viruses into cells. The transporters responsible for controlling this crucial parameter in many intracellular compartments are the vacuolar (H+)-ATPases (V-ATPases). Recent advances in our understanding of the structure and regulation of the V-ATPases, together with the mapping of human genetic defects to genes that encode V-ATPase subunits, have led to tremendous excitement in this field.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane / enzymology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Subunits
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / chemistry
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / chemistry
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Protein Subunits
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases