Residue 249 in subunit beta regulates ADP inhibition and its phosphate modulation in Escherichia coli ATP synthase

Mechanism of ADP-Inhibited ATP Hydrolysis in Single Proton-Pumping FoF1-ATP Synthase Trapped in Solution

F_oF₁-ATP synthases in mitochondria, in chloroplasts, and in most bacteria are proton-driven membrane enzymes that supply the cells with ATP made from ADP and phosphate. Different control mechanisms exist to monitor and prevent the enzymes' reverse chemical reaction of fast wasteful ATP hydrolysis, including mechanical or redox-based blockade of catalysis and ADP inhibition. In general, product inhibition is expected to slow down the mean catalytic turnover. Biochemical assays are ensemble measurements and cannot discriminate between a mechanism affecting all enzymes equally or individually. For example, all enzymes could work more slowly at a decreasing substrate/product ratio, or an increasing number of individual enzymes could be completely blocked. Here, we examined the effect of increasing amounts of ADP on ATP hydrolysis of single Escherichia coli F_oF₁-ATP synthases in liposomes. We observed the individual catalytic turnover of the enzymes one after another by monitoring the internal subunit rotation using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET). Observation times of single FRET-labeled F_oF₁-ATP synthases in solution were extended up to several seconds using a confocal anti-Brownian electrokinetic trap (ABEL trap). By counting active versus inhibited enzymes, we revealed that ADP inhibition did not decrease the catalytic turnover of all F_oF₁-ATP synthases equally. Instead, increasing ADP in the ADP/ATP mixture reduced the number of remaining active enzymes that operated at similar catalytic rates for varying substrate/product ratios.

Heterogeneity of Starved Yeast Cells in IF1 Levels Suggests the Role of This Protein in vivo

In mitochondria, a small protein IF1 suppresses the hydrolytic activity of ATP synthase and presumably prevents excessive ATP hydrolysis under conditions of energy deprivation. In yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, IF1 homologs are encoded by two paralogous genes: INH1 and STF1. INH1 expression is known to aggravate the deleterious effects of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion. Surprisingly, no beneficial effects of INH1 and STF1 were documented for yeast so far, and the functions of INH1 and STF1 in wild type cells are unclear. Here, we put forward a hypothesis that INH1 and STF1 bring advantage during the fast start of proliferation after reentry into exponential growth from post-diauxic or stationary phases. We found that yeast cells increase the concentration of both proteins in the post-diauxic phase. Post-diauxic phase yeast cells formed two subpopulations distinct in Inh1p and Stf1p concentrations. Upon exit from the post-diauxic phase cells with high level of Inh1-GFP started growing earlier than cells devoid of Inh1-GFP. However, double deletion of INH1 and STF1 did not increase the lag period necessary for stationary phase yeast cells to start growing after reinoculation into the fresh medium. These results point to a redundancy of the mechanisms preventing uncontrolled ATP hydrolysis during energy deprivation.

Fast ATP-Dependent Subunit Rotation in Reconstituted FoF1-ATP Synthase Trapped in Solution

F_oF₁-ATP synthases are ubiquitous membrane-bound, rotary motor enzymes that can catalyze ATP synthesis and hydrolysis. Their enzyme kinetics are controlled by internal subunit rotation, by substrate and product concentrations, and by mechanical inhibitory mechanisms but also by the electrochemical potential of protons across the membrane. Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) has been used to detect subunit rotation within F_oF₁-ATP synthases embedded in freely diffusing liposomes. We now report that kinetic monitoring of functional rotation can be prolonged from milliseconds to seconds by utilizing an anti-Brownian electrokinetic trap (ABEL trap). These extended observation times allowed us to observe fluctuating rates of functional rotation for individual F_oF₁-liposomes in solution. Broad distributions of ATP-dependent catalytic rates were revealed. The buildup of an electrochemical potential of protons was confirmed to limit the maximum rate of ATP hydrolysis. In the presence of ionophores or uncouplers, the fastest subunit rotation speeds measured in single reconstituted F_oF₁-ATP synthases were 180 full rounds per second. This was much faster than measured by biochemical ensemble averaging, but not as fast as the maximum rotational speed reported previously for isolated single F₁ complexes uncoupled from the membrane-embedded F_o complex. Further application of ABEL trap measurements should help resolve the mechanistic causes of such fluctuating rates of subunit rotation.

Rotary Ion-Translocating ATPases/ATP Synthases: Diversity, Similarities, and Differences

Ion-translocating ATPases and ATP synthases (F-, V-, A-type ATPases, and several P-type ATPases and ABC-transporters) catalyze ATP hydrolysis or ATP synthesis coupled with the ion transport across the membrane. F-, V-, and A-ATPases are protein nanomachines that combine transmembrane transport of protons or sodium ions with ATP synthesis/hydrolysis by means of a rotary mechanism. These enzymes are composed of two multisubunit subcomplexes that rotate relative to each other during catalysis. Rotary ATPases phosphorylate/dephosphorylate nucleotides directly, without the generation of phosphorylated protein intermediates. F-type ATPases are found in chloroplasts, mitochondria, most eubacteria, and in few archaea. V-type ATPases are eukaryotic enzymes present in a variety of cellular membranes, including the plasma membrane, vacuoles, late endosomes, and trans-Golgi cisternae. A-type ATPases are found in archaea and some eubacteria. F- and A-ATPases have two main functions: ATP synthesis powered by the proton motive force (pmf) or, in some prokaryotes, sodium-motive force (smf) and generation of the pmf or smf at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. In prokaryotes, both functions may be vitally important, depending on the environment and the presence of other enzymes capable of pmf or smf generation. In eukaryotes, the primary and the most crucial function of F-ATPases is ATP synthesis. Eukaryotic V-ATPases function exclusively as ATP-dependent proton pumps that generate pmf necessary for the transmembrane transport of ions and metabolites and are vitally important for pH regulation. This review describes the diversity of rotary ion-translocating ATPases from different organisms and compares the structural, functional, and regulatory features of these enzymes.

F-ATP-ase of Escherichia coli membranes: The ubiquitous MgADP-inhibited state and the inhibited state induced by the ε-subunit's C-terminal domain are mutually exclusive

ATP synthases are important energy-coupling, rotary motor enzymes in all kingdoms of life. In all F-type ATP synthases, the central rotor of the catalytic F₁ complex is composed of the γ subunit and the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the ε subunit. In the enzymes of diverse bacteria, the C-terminal domain of ε (εCTD) can undergo a dramatic conformational change to trap the enzyme in a transiently inactive state. This inhibitory mechanism is absent in the mitochondrial enzyme, so the εCTD could provide a means to selectively target ATP synthases of pathogenic bacteria for antibiotic development. For Escherichia coli and other bacterial model systems, it has been difficult to dissect the relationship between ε inhibition and a MgADP-inhibited state that is ubiquitous for F_OF₁ from bacteria and eukaryotes. A prior study with the isolated catalytic complex from E. coli, EcF₁, showed that these two modes of inhibition are mutually exclusive, but it has long been known that interactions of F₁ with the membrane-embedded F_O complex modulate inhibition by the εCTD. Here, we study membranes containing EcF_OF₁ with wild-type ε, ε lacking the full εCTD, or ε with a small deletion at the C-terminus. By using compounds with distinct activating effects on F-ATP-ase activity, we confirm that εCTD inhibition and ubiquitous MgADP inhibition are mutually exclusive for membrane-bound E. coli F-ATP-ase. We determine that most of the enzyme complexes in wild-type membranes are in the ε-inhibited state (>50%) or in the MgADP-inhibited state (30%).

Functional importance of αAsp-350 in the catalytic sites of Escherichia coli ATP synthase

Negatively charged residue αAsp-350 of the highly conserved VISIT-DG sequence is required for Pi binding and maintenance of the phosphate-binding subdomain in the catalytic sites of Escherichia coli F₁F_o ATP synthase. αAsp-350 is situated in close proximity, 2.88 Å and 3.5 Å, to the conserved known phosphate-binding residues αR376 and βR182. αD350 is also in close proximity, 1.3 Å, to another functionally important residue αG351. Mutation of αAsp-350 to Ala, Gln, or Arg resulted in substantial loss of oxidative phosphorylation and reduction in ATPase activity by 6- to 16-fold. The loss of the acidic side chain in the form of αD350A, αD350Q, and αD350R caused loss of Pi binding. While removal of Arg in the form of αR376D resulted in the loss of Pi binding, the addition of Arg in the form of αG351R did not affect Pi binding. Our data demonstrates that αD350R helps in the proper orientation of αR376 and βR182 for Pi binding. Fluoroaluminate, fluoroscandium, and sodium azide caused almost complete inhibition of wild type enzyme and caused variable inhibition of αD350 mutant enzymes. NBD-Cl (4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1, 3-diazole) caused complete inhibition of wild type enzyme while some residual activity was left in mutant enzymes. Inhibition characteristics supported the conclusion that NBD-Cl reacts in βE (empty) catalytic sites. Phosphate protected against NBD-Cl inhibition of wild type and αG351R mutant enzymes but not inhibition of αD350A, αD350Q, αD350R, or αR376D mutant enzymes. These results demonstrate that αAsp-350 is an essential residue required for phosphate binding, through its interaction with αR376 and βR182, for normal function of phosphate binding subdomain and for transition state stabilization in ATP synthase catalytic sites.

Amino Acid Residues β139, β189, and β319 Modulate ADP-Inhibition in Escherichia coli H+-FOF1-ATP Synthase

Proton-translocating F_OF₁-ATP synthase (F-type ATPase, F-ATPase or F_OF₁) performs ATP synthesis/hydrolysis coupled to proton transport across the membrane in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and most eubacteria. The ATPase activity of the enzyme is suppressed in the absence of protonmotive force by several regulatory mechanisms. The most conserved of these mechanisms is noncompetitive inhibition of ATP hydrolysis by the MgADP complex (ADP-inhibition) which has been found in all the enzymes studied. When MgADP binds without phosphate in the catalytic site, the enzyme enters an inactive state, and MgADP gets locked in the catalytic site and does not exchange with the medium. The degree of ADP-inhibition varies in F_OF₁ enzymes from different organisms. In the Escherichia coli enzyme, ADP-inhibition is relatively weak and, in contrast to other organisms, is enhanced rather than suppressed by phosphate. In this study, we used site-directed mutagenesis to investigate the role of amino acid residues β139, β158, β189, and β319 of E. coli F_OF₁-ATP synthase in the mechanism of ADP-inhibition and its modulation by the protonmotive force. The amino acid residues in these positions differ in the enzymes from beta- and gammaproteobacteria (including E. coli) and F_OF₁-ATP synthases from other eubacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. The βN158L substitution produced no effect on the enzyme activity, while substitutions βF139Y, βF189L, and βV319T only slightly affected ATP (1 mM) hydrolysis. However, in a mixture of ATP and ADP, the activity of the mutants was less suppressed than that of the wild-type enzyme. In addition, mutations βF189L and βV319T weakened the ATPase activity inhibition by phosphate in the presence of ADP. We suggest that residues β139, β189, and β319 are involved in the mechanism of ADP-inhibition and its modulation by phosphate.

Mutation Q259L in subunit beta in Bacillus subtilis ATP synthase attenuates ADP-inhibition and decreases fitness in mixed cultures

The ATPase activity of H⁺-F_OF₁-ATP synthase (F_OF₁) is down-regulated by several mechanisms. The most universal of them found in bacterial, chloroplast and mitochondrial enzymes is non-competitive inhibition by MgADP (ADP-inhibition). When MgADP binds in a catalytic site in the absence of phosphate, the nucleotide might be trapped instead of being released and replaced by new MgATP. In this case the enzyme becomes inactivated, and MgADP release is required for re-activation. The degree of ADP-inhibition varies between different organisms: it is strong in mitochondrial and chloroplast F_OF₁ and in enzymes of some bacteria (including Bacillus PS3 sp., and Bacillus subtilis), but in F_OF₁ of Escherichia coli it is much weaker. It was shown that mutation betaGln259Leu in Bacillus PS3 F_OF₁ noticeably relieves its strong ADP-inhibition. In this work, we introduced the same mutation in F_OF₁ from B. subtilis. ADP-inhibition in the mutant F_OF₁ was also attenuated in comparison to the wild-type enzyme. The ATPase activity in membrane preparations was 3 fold higher in the mutant. Mutant enzyme was capable of ATP-driven proton pumping, and its ATPase activity was stimulated by dissipation of the protonmotive force, implying that the coupling efficiency between ATP hydrolysis and proton transport was not impaired by the mutation. We observed no effect of mutation on the growth rate of B. subtilis in pure cultures. However, in competition growth experiments when the wild type and the mutant strains were cultivated together in mixed cultures, the wild type strain always crowded out the mutant. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the negative effect of F_OF₁ ADP-inhibition attenuation in vivo.