Location of the MT-ATP8 gene in the human mitochondrial genome. MT-ATP8 is one of the two ATP synthase mitochondrial genes (red boxes).The 46-nucleotide overlap in the reading frames of the human mitochondrial genes MT-ATP8 and MT-ATP6. For each nucleotide triplet (square brackets), the corresponding amino acid is given (one-letter code), either in the +1 frame for MT-ATP8 (in red) or in the +3 frame for MT-ATP6 (in blue).
MT-ATP8 (or ATP8) is a mitochondrial gene with the full name 'mitochondrially encoded ATP synthase membrane subunit 8' that encodes a subunit of mitochondrial ATP synthase, ATP synthase Fo subunit 8 (or subunit A6L). This subunit belongs to the Fo complex of the large, transmembrane F-type ATP synthase.[5] This enzyme, which is also known as complex V, is responsible for the final step of oxidative phosphorylation in the electron transport chain. Specifically, one segment of ATP synthase allows positively charged ions, called protons, to flow across a specialized membrane inside mitochondria. Another segment of the enzyme uses the energy created by this proton flow to convert a molecule called adenosine diphosphate (ADP) to ATP.[6] Subunit 8 differs in sequence between Metazoa, plants and Fungi.
