Molecular mechanism of the ATP synthase's F(o) motor probed by mutational analyses of subunit a

Determinants of Directionality and Efficiency of the ATP Synthase Fo Motor at Atomic Resolution

F_o subcomplex of ATP synthase is a membrane-embedded rotary motor that converts proton motive force into mechanical energy. Despite a rapid increase in the number of high-resolution structures, the mechanism of tight coupling between proton transport and motion of the rotary c-ring remains elusive. Here, using extensive all-atom free energy simulations, we show how the motor's directionality naturally arises from the interplay between intraprotein interactions and energetics of protonation of the c-ring. Notably, our calculations reveal that the strictly conserved arginine in the a-subunit (R176) serves as a jack-of-all-trades: it dictates the direction of rotation, controls the protonation state of the proton-release site, and separates the two proton-access half-channels. Therefore, arginine is necessary to avoid slippage between the proton flux and the mechanical output and guarantees highly efficient energy conversion. We also provide mechanistic explanations for the reported defective mutations of R176, reconciling the structural information on the F_o motor with previous functional and single-molecule data.

ATP Synthase Diseases of Mitochondrial Genetic Origin

Devastating human neuromuscular disorders have been associated to defects in the ATP synthase. This enzyme is found in the inner mitochondrial membrane and catalyzes the last step in oxidative phosphorylation, which provides aerobic eukaryotes with ATP. With the advent of structures of complete ATP synthases, and the availability of genetically approachable systems such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we can begin to understand these molecular machines and their associated defects at the molecular level. In this review, we describe what is known about the clinical syndromes induced by 58 different mutations found in the mitochondrial genes encoding membrane subunits 8 and a of ATP synthase, and evaluate their functional consequences with respect to recently described cryo-EM structures.

Structural study on the architecture of the bacterial ATP synthase Fo motor

We purified the F(o) complex from the Ilyobacter tartaricus Na(+)-translocating F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase and performed a biochemical and structural study. Laser-induced liquid bead ion desorption MS analysis demonstrates that all three subunits of the isolated F(o) complex were present and in native stoichiometry (ab(2)c(11)). Cryoelectron microscopy of 2D crystals yielded a projection map at a resolution of 7.0 Å showing electron densities from the c(11) rotor ring and up to seven adjacent helices. A bundle of four helices belongs to the stator a-subunit and is in contact with c(11). A fifth helix adjacent to the four-helix bundle interacts very closely with a c-subunit helix, which slightly shifts its position toward the ring center. Atomic force microscopy confirms the presence of the F(o) stator, and a height profile reveals that it protrudes less from the membrane than c(11). The data limit the dimensions of the subunit a/c-ring interface: Three helices from the stator region are in contact with three c(11) helices. The location and distances of the stator helices impose spatial restrictions on the bacterial F(o) complex.

Essentials for ATP synthesis by F1F0 ATP synthases

The majority of cellular energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is synthesized by the ubiquitous F(1)F(0) ATP synthase. Power for ATP synthesis derives from an electrochemical proton (or Na(+)) gradient, which drives rotation of membranous F(0) motor components. Efficient rotation not only requires a significant driving force (DeltamuH(+)), consisting of membrane potential (Deltapsi) and proton concentration gradient (DeltapH), but also a high proton concentration at the source P side. In vivo this is maintained by dynamic proton movements across and along the surface of the membrane. The torque-generating unit consists of the interface of the rotating c ring and the stator a subunit. Ion translocation through this unit involves a sophisticated interplay between the c-ring binding sites, the stator arginine, and the coupling ions on both sides of the membrane. c-ring rotation is transmitted to the eccentric shaft gamma-subunit to elicit conformational changes in the catalytic sites of F(1), leading to ATP synthesis.

Complete ion-coordination structure in the rotor ring of Na+-dependent F-ATP synthases

The membrane-embedded rotors of Na(+)-dependent F-ATP synthases comprise 11 c-subunits that form a ring, with 11 Na(+) binding sites in between adjacent subunits. Following an updated crystallographic analysis of the c-ring from Ilyobacter tartaricus, we report the complete ion-coordination structure of the Na(+) sites. In addition to the four residues previously identified, there exists a fifth ligand, namely, a buried structural water molecule. This water is itself coordinated by Thr67, which, sequence analysis reveals, is the only residue involved in binding that distinguishes Na(+) synthases from H(+)-ATP synthases known to date. Molecular dynamics simulations and free-energy calculations of the c-ring in a lipid membrane lend clear support to the notion that this fifth ligand is a water molecule, and illustrate its influence on the selectivity of the binding sites. Given the evolutionary ascendancy of sodium over proton bioenergetics, this structure uncovers an ancient strategy for selective ion coupling in ATP synthases.

Functional asymmetry of the F(0) motor in bacterial ATP synthases

F(1)F(0) ATP synthases use the electrochemical potential of H(+) or Na(+) across biological membranes to synthesize ATP by a rotary mechanism. In bacteria, the enzymes can act in reverse as ATP-driven ion pumps creating the indispensable membrane potential. Here, we demonstrate that the F(0) parts of a Na(+)- and H(+)-dependent enzyme display major asymmetries with respect to their mode of operation, reflected by the requirement of approximately 100 times higher Na(+) or H(+) concentrations for the synthesis compared with the hydrolysis of ATP. A similar asymmetry is observed during ion transport through isolated F(0) parts, indicating different affinities for the binding sites in the a/c interface. Together with further data, we propose a model that provides a rationale for a differential usage of membrane potential and ion gradient during ATP synthesis as observed experimentally. The functional asymmetry might also reflect an important property of the ATP synthesis mechanism in vivo. In Escherichia coli, we observed respiratory chain-driven ATP production at pH 7-8, while P-site pH values < 6.5 were required for ATP synthesis in vitro. This discrepancy is discussed with respect to the hypothesis that during respiration lateral proton diffusion could lead to significant acidification at the membrane surface.

Unique rotary ATP synthase and its biological diversity

F1F0 ATP synthases convert energy stored in an electrochemical gradient of H+ or Na+ across the membrane into mechanical rotation, which is subsequently converted into the chemical bond energy of ATP. The majority of cellular ATP is produced by the ATP synthase in organisms throughout the biological kingdom and therefore under diverse environmental conditions. The ATP synthase of each particular cell is confronted with specific challenges, imposed by the specific environment, and thus by necessity must adapt to these conditions for optimal operation. Examples of these adaptations include diverse mechanisms for regulating the ATP hydrolysis activity of the enzyme, the utilization of different coupling ions with distinct ion binding characteristics, different ion-to-ATP ratios reflected by variations in the size of the rotor c ring, the mode of ion delivery to the binding sites, and the different contributions of the electrical and chemical gradients to the driving force.

ATP synthesis without R210 of subunit a in the Escherichia coli ATP synthase

Interactions between subunit a and oligomeric subunit c are essential for the coupling of proton translocation to rotary motion in the ATP synthase. A pair of previously described mutants, R210Q/Q252R and P204T/R210Q/Q252R [L.P. Hatch, G.B. Cox and S.M. Howitt, The essential arginine residue at position 210 in the a subunit of the Escherichia coli ATP synthase can be transferred to position 252 with partial retention of activity, J. Biol. Chem. 270 (1995) 29407-29412] has been constructed and further analyzed. These mutants, in which the essential arginine of subunit a, R210, was switched with a conserved glutamine residue, Q252, are shown here to be capable of both ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation, and ATP-driven proton translocation. In addition, lysine can replace the arginine at position 252 with partial retention of both activities. The pH dependence of ATP-driven proton translocation was determined after purification of mutant enzymes, and reconstitution into liposomes. Proton translocation by the lysine mutant, and to a lesser extent the arginine mutant, dropped off sharply above pH 7.5, consistent with the requirement for a positive charge during function. Finally, the rates of ATP synthesis and of ATP-driven proton translocation were completely inhibited by treatment with DCCD (N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide), while rates of ATP hydrolysis by the mutants were not significantly affected, indicating that DCCD modification disrupts the F(1)-F(o) interface. The results suggest that minimal requirements for proton translocation by the ATP synthase include a positive charge in subunit a and a weak interface between subunit a and oligomeric subunit c.

Two distinct proton binding sites in the ATP synthase family

The F1F0 ATP synthase utilizes energy stored in an electrochemical gradient of protons (or Na+ ions) across the membrane to synthesize ATP from ADP and phosphate. Current models predict that the protonation/deprotonation of specific acidic c ring residues is at the core of the proton translocation mechanism by this enzyme. To probe the mode of proton binding, we measured the covalent modification of the acidic c ring residues with the inhibitor dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) over the pH range from 5 to 11. With the H+-translocating ATP synthase from the archaeum Halobacterium salinarium or the Na+-translocating ATP synthase from Ilyobacter tartaricus, the pH profile of DCCD labeling followed a titration curve with a pKa around neutral, reflecting protonation of the acidic c ring residues. However, with the ATP synthases from Escherichia coli, mitochondria, or chloroplasts, a clearly different, bell-shaped pH profile for DCCD labeling was observed which is not compatible with carboxylate protonation but might be explained by the coordination of a hydronium ion as proposed earlier [Boyer, P. D. (1988) Trends Biochem. Sci. 13, 5-7]. Upon site-directed mutagenesis of single binding site residues of the structurally resolved c ring, the sigmoidal pH profile for DCCD labeling could be converted to a more bell-shaped one, demonstrating that the different ion binding modes are based on subtle changes in the amino acid sequence of the protein. The concept of two different binding sites in the ATP synthase family is supported by the ATP hydrolysis pH profiles of the investigated enzymes.

ATP synthesis by decarboxylation phosphorylation

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is used as a general energy source by all living cells. The free energy released by hydrolyzing its terminal phosphoric acid anhydride bond to yield ADP and phosphate is utilized to drive various energy-consuming reactions. The ubiquitous F(1)F(0) ATP synthase produces the majority of ATP by converting the energy stored in a transmembrane electrochemical gradient of H(+) or Na(+) into mechanical rotation. While the mechanism of ATP synthesis by the ATP synthase itself is universal, diverse biological reactions are used by different cells to energize the membrane. Oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria or aerobic bacteria and photophosphorylation in plants are well-known processes. Less familiar are fermentation reactions performed by anaerobic bacteria, wherein the free energy of the decarboxylation of certain metabolites is converted into an electrochemical gradient of Na(+) ions across the membrane (decarboxylation phosphorylation). This chapter will focus on the latter mechanism, presenting an updated survey on the Na(+)-translocating decarboxylases from various organisms. In the second part, we provide a detailed description of the F(1)F(0) ATP synthases with special emphasis on the Na(+)-translocating variant of these enzymes.

Specific modification of a Na+ binding site in NADH:quinone oxidoreductase from Klebsiella pneumoniae with dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

The respiratory NADH:quinone oxidoreductase (complex I) (NDH-1) is a multisubunit enzyme that translocates protons (or in some cases Na+) across energy-conserving membranes from bacteria or mitochondria. We studied the reaction of the Na+-translocating complex I from the enterobacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae with N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD), with the aim of identifying a subunit critical for Na+ binding. At low Na+ concentrations (0.6 mM), DCCD inhibited both quinone reduction and Na+ transport by NDH-1 concurrent with the covalent modification of a 30-kDa polypeptide. In the presence of 50 mM Na+, NDH-1 was protected from inhibition by DCCD, and the modification of the 30-kDa polypeptide with [14C]DCCD was prevented, indicating that Na+ and DCCD competed for the binding to a critical carboxyl group in NDH-1. The 30-kDa polypeptide was assigned to NuoH, the homologue of the ND1 subunit from mitochondrial complex I. It is proposed that Na+ binds to the NuoH subunit during NADH-driven Na+ transport by NDH-1.

Catalytic and mechanical cycles in F-ATP synthases. Fourth in the Cycles Review Series

Cycles have a profound role in cellular life at all levels of organization. Well-known cycles in cell metabolism include the tricarboxylic acid and the urea cycle, in which a specific carrier substrate undergoes a sequence of chemical transformations and is regenerated at the end. Other examples include the interconversions of cofactors, such as NADH or ATP, which are present in the cell in limiting amounts and have to be recycled effectively for metabolism to continue. Every living cell performs a rapid turnover of ATP to ADP to fulfil various energetic demands and effectively regenerates the ATP from ADP in an energy-consuming process. The turnover of the ATP cycle is impressive; a human uses about its body weight in ATP per day. Enzymes perform catalytic reaction cycles in which they undergo several chemical and physical transformations before they are converted back to their original states. The ubiquitous F1F(o) ATP synthase is of particular interest not only because of its biological importance, but also owing to its unique rotational mechanism. Here, we give an overview of the membrane-embedded F(o) sector, particularly with respect to the recent crystal structure of the c ring from Ilyobacter tartaricus, and summarize current hypotheses for the mechanism by which rotation of the c ring is generated.

Structure of the Rotor Ring of F-Type Na+-ATPase from Ilyobacter tartaricus

In the crystal structure of the membrane-embedded rotor ring of the sodium ion-translocating adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthase of Ilyobacter tartaricus at 2.4 angstrom resolution, 11 c subunits are assembled into an hourglass-shaped cylinder with 11-fold symmetry. Sodium ions are bound in a locked conformation close to the outer surface of the cylinder near the middle of the membrane. The structure supports an ion-translocation mechanism in the intact ATP synthase in which the binding site converts from the locked conformation into one that opens toward subunit a as the rotor ring moves through the subunit a/c interface.

Torque generation by the Fo motor of the sodium ATPase

Based on recent structural and functional findings, we have constructed a mathematical model for the sodium-driven Fo motor of the F1Fo-ATPase from the anaerobic bacterium Propionigenium modestum. The model reveals the mechanochemical principles underlying the Fo motor's operation, and explains all of the existing experimental data on wild-type and mutant Fo motors. In particular, the model predicts a nonmonotonic dependence of the ATP hydrolysis activity on the sodium concentration, a prediction confirmed by new experiments. To explain experimental observations, the positively charged stator residue (R227) must assume different positions in the ATP synthesis and hydrolysis directions. This work also illustrates how to extract a motor mechanism from dynamical experimental observations in the absence of complete structural information.

Bacterial Na+- or H+-coupled ATP Synthases Operating at Low Electrochemical Potential

In certain strictly anaerobic bacteria, the energy for growth is derived entirely from a decarboxylation reaction. A prominent example is Propionigenium modestum, which converts the free energy of the decarboxylation of (S)-methylmalonyl-CoA to propionyl-CoA (DeltaG degrees =-20.6 kJ/mol) into an electrochemical Na(+) ion gradient across the membrane. This energy source is used as a driving force for ATP synthesis by a Na(+)-translocating F(1)F(0) ATP synthase. According to bioenergetic considerations, approximately four decarboxylation events are necessary to support the synthesis of one ATP. This unique feature of using Na(+) instead of H(+) as the coupling ion has made this ATP synthase the paradigm to study the ion pathway across the membrane and its relationship to rotational catalysis. The membrane potential (Deltapsi) is the key driving force to convert ion translocation through the F(0) motor components into torque. The resulting rotation elicits conformational changes at the catalytic sites of the peripheral F(1) domain which are instrumental for ATP synthesis. Alkaliphilic bacteria also face the challenge of synthesizing ATP at a low electrochemical potential, but for entirely different reasons. Here, the low potential is not the result of insufficient energy input from substrate degradation, but of an inverse pH gradient. This is a consequence of the high environmental pH where these bacteria grow and the necessity to keep the intracellular pH in the neutral range. In spite of this unfavorable bioenergetic condition, ATP synthesis in alkaliphilic bacteria is coupled to the proton motive force (DeltamuH(+)) and not to the much higher sodium motive force (DeltamuNa(+)). A peculiar feature of the ATP synthases of alkaliphiles is the specific inhibition of their ATP hydrolysis activity. This inhibition appears to be an essential strategy for survival at high external pH: if the enzyme were to operate as an ATPase, protons would be pumped outwards to counteract the low DeltamuH(+), thus wasting valuable ATP and compromising acidification of the cytoplasm at alkaline pH.

Electrical Power Fuels Rotary ATP Synthase

ATP synthesis by F-type ATP synthases consumes energy stored in a transmembrane electrochemical gradient of protons or sodium ions. The electric component of the ion motive force is crucial for ATP synthesis. Here, we incorporate recent results on structure and function of the F(0) domain and present a mechanism for torque generation with the fundamental nature of the membrane potential as driving force in the core.

The role of transmembrane span 2 in the structure and function of subunit a of the ATP synthase from Escherichia coli

The importance of the second transmembrane span of subunit a of the ATP synthase from Escherichia coli has been established by two approaches. First, biochemical analysis of five cysteine-substitution mutants, four of which were previously constructed for labeling experiments, revealed that only D119C, found within the second transmembrane span, was deleterious to ATP synthase function. This mutant had a greatly reduced growth yield, indicating inefficient ATP synthesis, but it retained a significant level of ATP-driven proton translocation and sensitivity to N,N(')-dicyclohexyl-carbodiimide, indicating more robust function in the direction of ATP hydrolysis. Second, the entire second transmembrane span was probed by alanine-insertion mutagenesis at six different positions, from residues 98 to 122. Insertions at the central four positions from residues 107 to 117 resulted in the inability to grow on succinate minimal medium, although normal levels of membrane-bound ATPase activity and significant levels of subunit a were detected. Double mutants were constructed with a mutation that permits cross-linking to the b subunit. Cross-linked products in the mutant K74C/114iA were seen, indicating no major disruption of the a-b interface due to the insertion at 114. Analysis of the K74C/110iA double mutant indicated that K74C is a partial suppressor of 110iA. In summary, the results support a model in which the amino-terminal, cytoplasmic end of the second transmembrane span has close contact with subunit b, while the carboxy-terminal, periplasmic end is important for proton translocation.

ATP synthesis driven by proton transport in F1F0-ATP synthase

Topical questions in ATP synthase research are: (1) how do protons cause subunit rotation and how does rotation generate ATP synthesis from ADP+Pi? (2) How does hydrolysis of ATP generate subunit rotation and how does rotation bring about uphill transport of protons? The finding that ATP synthase is not just an enzyme but rather a unique nanomotor is attracting a diverse group of researchers keen to find answers. Here we review the most recent work on rapidly developing areas within the field and present proposals for enzymatic and mechanoenzymatic mechanisms.

Rotary protein motors

Three protein motors have been unambiguously identified as rotary engines: the bacterial flagellar motor and the two motors that constitute ATP synthase (F(0)F(1) ATPase). Of these, the bacterial flagellar motor and F(0) motors derive their energy from a transmembrane ion-motive force, whereas the F(1) motor is driven by ATP hydrolysis. Here, we review the current understanding of how these protein motors convert their energy supply into a rotary torque.

Complete DNA sequence of the atp operon of the sodium-dependent F1Fo ATP synthase from Ilyobacter tartaricus and identification of the encoded subunits

The atp operon of Ilyobacter tartaricus, strain DSM 2382, was completely sequenced using conventional and inverse polymerase chain reaction (i-PCR) techniques. It contains nine open reading frames that were attributed to eight structural genes of the F(1)F(o) ATP synthase and the atpI gene, which is not part of the enzyme complex. The initiation codons of all atp genes, except that of atpB coding for the a subunit, were identified by the corresponding N-terminal amino acid sequence. The hydrophobic a subunit was identified by MALDI mass spectrometry. The atp genes of I. tartaricus are arranged in one operon with the sequence atpIBEFHAGDC comprising 6,992 base pairs with a GC content of 38.1%. The F(1)F(o) ATP synthase of I. tartaricus has a calculated molecular mass of 510 kDa and includes 4,810 amino acids. The gene sequences and products reveal significant identities to atp genes of other Na(+)-translocating F(1)F(o) ATP synthases, especially in the F(o) subunits a and c which are directly involved in ion translocation.