Entrez 4509 | Ensembl ENSG00000228253 | |
 | ||
External IDs HomoloGene: 124425 GeneCards: ATP8 | ||
The protein
ATP synthase protein 8 is a subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase.
Contents
This protein subunit appears to be an integral component of the stator stalk in yeast mitochondrial F-ATPases. The stator stalk is anchored in the membrane, and acts to prevent futile rotation of the ATPase subunits relative to the rotor during coupled ATP synthesis/hydrolysis. This subunit may have an analogous function in Metazoa.
Subunit 8 differs in sequence between Metazoa, plants and Fungi.
The gene
The ATP synthase protein 8 of human and other mammals is encoded in the mitochondrial genome by the MT-ATP8 gene. When the complete human mitochondrial genome was first published, the MT-ATP8 gene was described as the unidentified reading frame URF A6L.
An unusual feature of the MT-ATP8 gene is its 46-nucleotide overlap with the MT-ATP6 gene. With respect to the reading frame (+1) of MT-ATP8, the MT-ATP6 gene starts on the +3 reading frame.