Question

This family of ATPases is structurally related to the turbine-like pumps that acidify lysosomes and vesicles; however, they usually function in reverse, generating ATP from ADP and Pi using proton gradients across membranes. What are they called?

1) ABC transporters
2) F-type pumps
3) P-type pumps
4) Permeases
5) V-type pumps

Answer 1

F-type pumps are ATPases that generate ATP using proton gradients, typically found in mitochondria and are structurally similar to, but functionally reverse of, V-type pumps.

Step-by-step explanation:

The family of ATPases that generate ATP from ADP and Pi using proton gradients across membranes, and are structurally related to pumps that acidify lysosomes and vesicles are called F-type pumps. Unlike pumps that transport substances through active transport which requires ATP to function, F-type ATPases generally function in the reverse direction by using the energy from proton gradients to synthesize ATP.

This process is crucial in mitochondria where ATP is produced during oxidative phosphorylation. These ATPases are distinct from ABC transporters, P-type pumps, permeases, and V-type pumps, the latter of which are more similar in function to F-type pumps but typically work in the opposite direction by hydrolyzing ATP to pump protons and acidify cellular compartments.