SUMMARY PARAGRAPH for ATP16 ATP16 encodes the delta subunit of
mitochondrial ATP synthase and is homologous to the epsilon
subunit of bacterial ATP synthase (1). The ATP synthase complex
utilizes proton motive force to generate ATP from ADP and Pi
(3). The structure of this enzyme complex is highly conserved
among diverse organisms and consists of two major components,
soluble F1 and membrane-bound F0, each of which contains many
subunits. F1 and F0 are connected, both functionally and
physically, via two additional multi-subunit structures, the
central stalk and the stator stalk. The delta subunit is part of
the central stalk, which, like a rotor shaft, transmits the
movement of the F0 proton pump to the catalytic core of F1 (4
and references therein). Although ATP16 is essential for ATP
synthase function, it is not essential for life in yeast.
Deletion of ATP16, like deletions in many genes necessary for
the function or maintenance of mitochondria, leads to a "petite"
phenotype that is slow-growing and unab