Yumin Bi

Two rotary motors in F-ATP synthase are elastically coupled by a flexible rotor and a stiff stator stalk

ATP is synthesized by ATP synthase (FOF1-ATPase). Its rotary electromotor (FO) translocates protons (in some organisms sodium cations) and generates torque to drive the rotary chemical generator (F1). Elastic power transmission between FO and F1 is essential for smoothing the cooperation of these stepping motors, thereby increasing their kinetic efficiency. A particularly compliant elastic domain is located on the central rotor (c10–15/ϵ/γ), right between the two sites of torque generation and consumption. The hinge on the active lever on subunit β adds further compliance. It is under contention whether or not the peripheral stalk (and the “stator” as a whole) also serves as elastic buffer. In the enzyme from Escherichia coli, the most extended component of the stalk is the homodimer b2, a right-handed α-helical coiled coil. By fluctuation analysis we determined the spring constant of the stator in response to twisting and bending, and compared wild-type with b-mutant enzymes. In both deformation modes, the stator was very stiff in the wild type. It was more compliant if b was elongated by 11 amino acid residues. Substitution of three consecutive residues in b by glycine, expected to destabilize its α-helical structure, further reduced the stiffness against bending deformation. In any case, the stator was at least 10-fold stiffer than the rotor, and the enzyme retained its proton-coupled activity.

The Proton-translocating a Subunit of F0F1-ATP Synthase Is Allocated Asymmetrically to the Peripheral Stalk

The position of the a subunit of the membrane-integral F0 sector of Escherichia coli ATP synthase was investigated by single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies utilizing a fusion of enhanced green fluorescent protein to the C terminus of the a subunit and fluorescent labels attached to specific positions of the ϵ or γ subunits. Three fluorescence resonance energy transfer levels were observed during rotation driven by ATP hydrolysis corresponding to the three resting positions of the rotor subunits, γ or ϵ, relative to the a subunit of the stator. Comparison of these positions of the rotor sites with those previously determined relative to the b subunit dimer indicates the position of a as adjacent to the b dimer on its counterclockwise side when the enzyme is viewed from the cytoplasm. This relationship provides stability to the membrane interface between a and b2, allowing it to withstand the torque imparted by the rotor during ATP synthesis as well as ATP hydrolysis.

Genetic Fusions of Globular Proteins to the ε Subunit of theEscherichia coli ATP Synthase IMPLICATIONS FOR IN VIVO ROTATIONAL CATALYSIS AND ε SUBUNIT FUNCTION

The rotational mechanism of ATP synthase was investigated by fusing three proteins from Escherichia coli, the 12-kDa soluble cytochrome b 562, the 20-kDa flavodoxin, and the 28-kDa flavodoxin reductase, to the C terminus of the ε subunit of the enzyme. According to the concept of rotational catalysis, because ε is part of the rotor a large domain added at this site should sterically clash with the second stalk, blocking rotation and fully inhibiting the enzyme. E. colicells expressing the cytochrome b 562 fusion in place of wild-type ε grew using acetate as the energy source, indicating their capacity for oxidative phosphorylation. Cells expressing the larger flavodoxin or flavodoxin reductase fusions failed to grow on acetate. Immunoblot analysis showed that the fusion proteins were stable in the cells and that they had no effect on enzyme assembly. These results provide initial evidence supporting rotational catalysis in vivo. In membrane vesicles, the cytochromeb 562 fusion caused an increase in the apparent ATPase activity but a minor decrease in proton pumping. Vesicles bearing ATP synthase containing the larger fusion proteins showed reduced but significant levels of ATPase activity that was sensitive to inhibition by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) but no proton pumping. Thus, all fusions to ε generated an uncoupled component of ATPase activity. These results imply that a function of the C terminus of ε in F1F0 is to increase the efficiency of the enzyme by specifically preventing the uncoupled hydrolysis of ATP. Given the sensitivity to DCCD, this uncoupled ATP hydrolysis may arise from rotational steps of γε in the inappropriate direction after ATP is bound at the catalytic site. It is proposed that the C-terminal domain of ε functions to ensure that rotation occurs only in the direction of ATP synthesis when ADP is bound and only in the direction of hydrolysis when ATP is bound.

Probing the functional tolerance of the b subunit of Escherichia coli ATP synthase for sequence manipulation through a chimera approach

A dimer of 156-residue b subunits forms the peripheral stator stalk of eubacterial ATP synthase. Dimerization is mediated by a sequence with an unusual 11-residue (hendecad) repeat pattern, implying a right-handed coiled coil structure. We investigated the potential for producing functional chimeras in the b subunit of Escherichia coli ATP synthase by replacing parts of its sequence with corresponding regions of the b subunits from other eubacteria, sequences from other polypeptides having similar hendecad patterns, and sequences forming left-handed coiled coils. Replacement of positions 55-110 with corresponding sequences from Bacillus subtilis and Thermotoga maritima b subunits resulted in fully functional chimeras, judged by support of growth on nonfermentable carbon sources. Extension of the T. maritima sequence N-terminally to position 37 or C-terminally to position 124 resulted in slower but significant growth, indicating retention of some capacity for oxidative phosphorylation. Portions of the dimerization domain between 55 and 95 could be functionally replaced by segments from two other proteins having a hendecad pattern, the distantly related E subunit of the Chlamydia pneumoniae V-type ATPase and the unrelated Ag84 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Extension of such sequences to position 110 resulted in loss of function. None of the chimeras that incorporated the leucine zipper of yeast GCN4, or other left-handed coiled coils, supported oxidative phosphorylation, but substantial ATP-dependent proton pumping was observed in membrane vesicles prepared from cells expressing such chimeras. Characterization of chimeric soluble b polypeptides in vitro showed their retention of a predominantly helical structure. The T. maritima b subunit chimera melted cooperatively with a midpoint more than 20 degrees C higher than the normal E. coli sequence. The GCN4 construct melted at a similarly high temperature, but with much reduced cooperativity, suggesting a degree of structural disruption. These studies provide insight into the structural and sequential requirements for stator stalk function.

Load-dependent destabilization of the γ-rotor shaft in FOF1 ATP synthase revealed by hydrogen/deuterium-exchange mass spectrometry

Significance FOF1, or ATP synthase, is often referred to as the “world’s smallest motor.” Similar to automotive engines, it employs a rotating shaft that interacts with mechanical actuators. When operating a combustion engine under load, the bearings exert significant forces on the crankshaft, leading to enhanced mechanical stress. Here, we demonstrate that analogous load-dependent effects occur in molecular motors. When FOF1 pumps protons against a transmembrane gradient, the rotor shaft undergoes structural destabilization attributed to resistive forces in its apical bearing. The effect disappears when the transmembrane gradient opposing proton pumping is short-circuited by an uncoupler, as predicted by fundamental principles of mechanics. Our observations highlight fascinating parallels between engine operation on the macroscale and the nanoscale. FoF1 is a membrane-bound molecular motor that uses proton-motive force (PMF) to drive the synthesis of ATP from ADP and Pi. Reverse operation generates PMF via ATP hydrolysis. Catalysis in either direction involves rotation of the γε shaft that connects the α3β3 head and the membrane-anchored cn ring. X-ray crystallography and other techniques have provided insights into the structure and function of FoF1 subcomplexes. However, interrogating the conformational dynamics of intact membrane-bound FoF1 during rotational catalysis has proven to be difficult. Here, we use hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry to probe the inner workings of FoF1 in its natural membrane-bound state. A pronounced destabilization of the γ C-terminal helix during hydrolysis-driven rotation was observed. This behavior is attributed to torsional stress in γ, arising from γ⋅⋅⋅α3β3 interactions that cause resistance during γ rotation within the apical bearing. Intriguingly, we find that destabilization of γ occurs only when FoF1 operates against a PMF-induced torque; the effect disappears when PMF is eliminated by an uncoupler. This behavior resembles the properties of automotive engines, where bearings inflict greater forces on the crankshaft when operated under load than during idling.

Mutations in the dimerization domain of the b subunit from the Escherichia coli ATP synthase: Deletions disrupt function but not enzyme assembly

The b subunit dimer of Escherichia coli ATP synthase serves essential roles as an assembly factor for the enzyme and as a stator during rotational catalysis. To investigate the functional importance of its coiled coil dimerization domain, a series of internal deletions including each individual residue between Lys-100 and Ala-105 (bΔK100-bΔA105), bΔK100-A103, and bΔK100-Q106 as well as a control bK100A missense mutation were prepared. All of the mutants supported assembly of ATP synthase, but all single-residue deletions failed to support growth on acetate, indicating a severe defect in oxidative phosphorylation, and bΔK100-Q106 displayed moderately reduced growth. The membrane-bound ATPase activities of these strains showed a related reduction in sensitivity to dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, indicative of uncoupling. Analysis of dimerization of the soluble constructs of bΔK100 and the multiple-residue deletions by sedimentation equilibrium revealed reduced dimerization compared with wild type for all deletions, with bΔK100-Q106 most severely affected. In cross-linking studies it was found that F1-ATPase can mediate the dimerization of some soluble b constructs but did not mediate dimerization of bΔK100 and bΔK100-Q106; these two forms also were defective in F1 binding analyses. We conclude that defective dimerization of soluble b constructs severely affects F1 binding in vitro, yet allows assembly of ATP synthase in vivo. The highly uncoupled nature of enzymes with single-residue deletions in b indicates that the b subunit serves an active function in energy coupling rather than just holding on to the F1 sector. This function is proposed to depend on proper, specific interactions between the b subunits and F1.

A re-examination of the structural and functional consequences of mutation of alanine-128 of the b subunit of Escherichia coli ATP synthase to aspartic acid

The effects of mutation of residue Ala-128 of the b subunit of Escherichia coli ATP synthase to aspartate on the structure of the subunit and its interaction with the F(1) sector were analyzed. Determination of solution molecular weights by sedimentation equilibrium ultracentrifugation revealed that the A128D mutation had little effect on dimerization in the soluble b construct, b(34-156). However, the mutation caused a structural perturbation detected through both a 12% reduction in the sedimentation coefficient and also a reduced tendency to form intersubunit disulfide bonds between cysteine residues inserted at position 132. Unlike the wild-type sequence, the A128D mutant was unable to interact with F(1)-ATPase. These results indicate that the A128D mutation caused a structural change in the C-terminal region of the protein, preventing the binding to F(1) but having little or no effect on the dimeric nature of b.