Kinetic properties of F0F1-ATPases. Theoretical predictions from alternating-site models

On the power per mitochondrion and the number of associated active ATP synthases

Recent experiments and thermodynamic arguments suggest that mitochondrial temperatures are higher than those of the cytoplasm. A "hot mitochondrion" calls for a closer examination of the energy balance that endows it with these claimed elevated temperatures. As a first step in this effort, we present here a semi-quantitative bookkeeping whereby, in one stroke, a formula is proposed that yields the rate of heat production in a typical mitochondrion and a formula for estimating the number of "active" ATP synthase molecules per mitochondrion. The number of active ATP synthase molecules is the equivalent number of ATP synthases operating at 100% capacity to maintain the rate of mitochondrial heat generation. Scaling laws are shown to determine the number of active ATP synthase molecules in a mitochondrion and mitochondrial rate of heat production, whereby both appear to scale with cell volume. Four heterotrophic protozoan cell types are considered in this study. The studied cells, selected to cover a wide range of sizes (volumes) fromca.100μm³to 1 millionμm³, are estimated to exhibit a power per mitochondrion ranging fromca.1 pW to 0.03 pW. In these cells, the corresponding number of active ATP synthases per mitochondrion ranges from 5000 to just about a hundred. The absolute total number of ATP synthase molecules per mitochondrion, regardless of their activity status, can be up to two orders of magnitudes higher.

Biophysical comparison of ATP-driven proton pumping mechanisms suggests a kinetic advantage for the rotary process depending on coupling ratio

ATP-driven proton pumps, which are critical to the operation of a cell, maintain cytosolic and organellar pH levels within a narrow functional range. These pumps employ two very different mechanisms: an elaborate rotary mechanism used by V-ATPase H⁺ pumps, and a simpler alternating access mechanism used by P-ATPase H⁺ pumps. Why are two different mechanisms used to perform the same function? Systematic analysis, without parameter fitting, of kinetic models of the rotary, alternating access and other possible mechanisms suggest that, when the ratio of protons transported per ATP hydrolyzed exceeds one, the one-at-a-time proton transport by the rotary mechanism is faster than other possible mechanisms across a wide range of driving conditions. When the ratio is one, there is no intrinsic difference in the free energy landscape between mechanisms, and therefore all mechanisms can exhibit the same kinetic performance. To our knowledge all known rotary pumps have an H⁺:ATP ratio greater than one, and all known alternating access ATP-driven proton pumps have a ratio of one. Our analysis suggests a possible explanation for this apparent relationship between coupling ratio and mechanism. When the conditions under which the pump must operate permit a coupling ratio greater than one, the rotary mechanism may have been selected for its kinetic advantage. On the other hand, when conditions require a coupling ratio of one or less, the alternating access mechanism may have been selected for other possible advantages resulting from its structural and functional simplicity.

Biophysical comparison of ATP synthesis mechanisms shows a kinetic advantage for the rotary process

The ATP synthase (F-ATPase) is a highly complex rotary machine that synthesizes ATP, powered by a proton electrochemical gradient. Why did evolution select such an elaborate mechanism over arguably simpler alternating-access processes that can be reversed to perform ATP synthesis? We studied a systematic enumeration of alternative mechanisms, using numerical and theoretical means. When the alternative models are optimized subject to fundamental thermodynamic constraints, they fail to match the kinetic ability of the rotary mechanism over a wide range of conditions, particularly under low-energy conditions. We used a physically interpretable, closed-form solution for the steady-state rate for an arbitrary chemical cycle, which clarifies kinetic effects of complex free-energy landscapes. Our analysis also yields insights into the debated "kinetic equivalence" of ATP synthesis driven by transmembrane pH and potential difference. Overall, our study suggests that the complexity of the F-ATPase may have resulted from positive selection for its kinetic advantage.

Kinetic modelling of the proton translocating CF0CF1-ATP synthase from spinach

The rate of both ATP synthase and hydrolysis catalysed by the thiol-modulated and activated ATP synthase from spinach is measured as a function of all substrates including the protons inside the thylakoid lumen. The most important findings are: (1) sigmoid kinetics with respect to H+in, (2) hyperbolic kinetics with respect to ADP, ATP and phosphate, with Km for phosphate and ADP decreasing upon increasing H+in, (3) binding of ADP and phosphate in random order and competitive to ATP. Simulation of the complete set of experimental data is obtained by a kinetic model featuring Boyer's binding-chain mechanism.

Synthesis of a self-contained concept of the molecular mechanism of energy interconversion by H(+)-transporting ATP synthase

The original aim of the review has been to probe into the validity of the paradigm on the high energy-carrier function of ATP. It seemed to be called into question on the basis of findings with H(+)-transporting ATP synthase suggesting the formation of ATP from ADP and Pi without energy input. Thus, ATP appeared as a low-energy compound. Starting from the current, rich knowledge of the molecular structure and the inviting thinking on the mechanism of H(+)-transporting ATP synthase, we have endeavoured to freshly interpret and integrate the pertinent observations in the light of the comprehensively derived model of the molecular mechanism of energy interconversion by Na+/K(+)-transporting ATPase. In this way, we have uncovered the common mechanistic elements of the two energy-interconverting enzymes. The emerging purpose of the present paper has been the 'synthesis' of a self-contained concept of the molecular mechanism of the interconversion of electrochemical and chemical Gibbs energies by H(+)-transporting ATP synthase. The outcome is reflected in the following tentative evaluations. 1. In ATP hydrolysis, the great Gibbs energy change which is observed in solution, is largely conserved by the F1 sector of ATP synthase as mechanical Gibbs energy in the enzyme's protein fabric, so that it can be utilized in the resynthesis of ATP from enzyme-bound ADP and Pi. The plainly measured low Gibbs energy change results from large compensating enthalpy and entropy changes that reflect the underlying changes in protein conformation. 2. In stoichiometric ATP synthesis by F1 sector from ADP and Pi bound to the catalytic centre, their intrinsic binding energy brings about a loss of peptide chain entropy that makes possible an entropy-driven ATP formation. 3. The driving force for ATP synthesis cannot be the high Gibbs energy change on binding of product ATP; the tight ATP-enzyme complex rather is a low Gibbs energy intermediate from which escape is difficult. 4. The catalytic centre exists either in an open state unable to firmly bind the substrate-product couple, or in a closed state protecting formed ATP from facile hydrolysis by ambient water. 5. The cleft closure, induced by binding of Pi and ADP or ATP, does not necessarily need external energy supply, because the cleft closure proceeds from rigid domain rotations which can occur rather spontaneously. In further analogy to adenylate kinase, the driving force of this domain movement presumably comes from the electrostatic interactions between phosphate moieties and arginine side chains in the catalytic centre.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Proton slip of the chloroplast ATPase: its nucleotide dependence, energetic threshold, and relation to an alternating site mechanism of catalysis

The F-ATPase of chloroplasts couples proton flow to ATP synthesis, but is leaky to protons in the absence of nucleotides. This "proton slip" can be blocked by small concentrations of ADP or by inhibitors of the channel portion, CF0. We studied charge flow through the ATPase by flash spectrophotometry and analyzed the inhibition of proton slip by nucleotides, phosphate/arsenate, and insufficient proton motive force. The following inhibition constants (at given background concentrations) were observed: ADP, 0.2 microM (0.5 mM P(i)); ADP, 13.4 microM (no P(i)); P(i), 43 microM (1 microM ADP); GDP, 2.5 microM (0.5 mM P(i)); ATP, 2 microM. ADP and P(i) mutually lowered their respective inhibition constants. Phosphate could be replaced by arsenate. Proton slip occurred only if the proton motive force exceeded a certain threshold, similar to that for ATP synthesis. The inhibition of proton slip by ADP and GDP qualified the respective nucleotide binding sites as belonging to the subset of two (or three) potentially catalytic sites out of the total of six. We interpreted the ADP-induced transition between different conduction states of the ATPase from "slipping" to "closed" to "coupled" as a consequence of the alternating site mechanism of catalysis. Whereas the proton translocator idles in the absence of nucleotides, the high-affinity binding of the first ADP/P(i) couple to one site clutches proton flow to some (conformational) change that can only be executed after the binding of another ADP/P(i) couple to a second site. From there on these sites alternate in the catalytic cycle. An entropic machine is presented which likewise models proton slip, unisite, and multisite ATP synthesis and hydrolysis.

Kinetic models of coupling between H+ and Na(+)-translocation and ATP synthesis/hydrolysis by F0F1-ATPases: can a cell utilize both delta mu H+ and delta mu Na+ for ATP synthesis under in vivo conditions using the same enzyme?

Kinetic models of the F0F1-ATPase able to transport H+ or/and Na+ ions are proposed. It is assumed that (i) H+ and Na+ compete for the same binding sites, (ii) ion translocation through F0 is coupled to the rate-limiting step of the F1-catalyzed reaction. The main characteristics of the dependences of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis rates on delta psi, delta pH, and delta pNa are predicted for various versions of the coupling model. The mechanism of the switchover from delta mu H(+)-dependent synthesis to the delta mu Na(+)-dependent one is demonstrated. It is shown that even with a drastic drop in delta mu H+, ATP hydrolysis by the proton mode of catalysis can be effectively inhibited by delta psi and delta pNa. The results obtained strongly support the possibility that the same F0F1-ATPase in bacterial cells can utilize both delta muH+ and delta muNa+ for ATP synthesis under in vivo conditions.

Energetics and the design principles of the Na/K-ATPase

Following on the pioneering analysis by Pickart and Jencks of the energetics of the calcium pump, the present mini review attempts a similar analysis of the somewhat more complicated sodium--and potassium--activated ATPase pump-enzyme. The analysis is based on the measurements of the rate-constants of the individual steps in the enzymic reaction which brings about pumping and uses data assembled by Stürmer et al., in the laboratory of Peter Läuger in Konstanz. The aim of such an analysis is to calculate the overall free energy released on ATP hydrolysis and to apportion this energy among the successive steps of the pump-enzyme reaction. We calculate the so-called basic free energy changes that take into account the prevailing ligand and ion concentrations, rather than the standard-state free energies that refer to 1 M concentrations of these ions and ligands. Using appropriate values of the ion and ligand concentrations in cardiac muscle, the available free energy which can be released from the hydrolysis of ATP (at 20 degrees C) comes out at 575 mV. Following a complete cycle of pumping, 371 mV of this free energy are found stored in the sodium and potassium ion gradients. The remaining 204 mV from the free energy of hydrolysis of ATP are lost to the ATP system. This part of the energy, that had been transduced into the concentration gradient of sodium, has presumably been used in the living cell to drive the co- and counter-transport (symport and antiport) of ions and metabolites in secondary transports. The free energy changes are pretty evenly apportioned along the various steps in the pumping cycle. The steps that one might naively have thought to be "powered", such as the step in which covalently bound phosphate is transformed from a high-energy to a low-energy state, or the step in which sodium is released into the phase containing a high concentration of sodium, show some of the lowest drops of free energy, 61 mV and 27 mV, respectively. The most surprising step in the overall reaction of ATP hydrolysis and synthesis is the phosphorylation of the protein from inorganic phosphate with formation of the acylphosphate bond. The stabilization of the acylphosphate bond presumably arises from ionic interactions between the covalently bound phosphate itself and appropriate groupings on the enzyme. ATP formation on the F0F1 ATPase (the F-type ATPase) is in an analogous way stabilized in the first place by phospho-ligand/enzyme interactions.