ATP合成酶的结合变化机制和旋转催化——1997年诺贝尔化学奖的部分工作介绍

保罗.博耶(P.D.Boyer)教授为阐明ATP酶作用机制所提出的结合变化机制有两个基本要点：一是ATP合成所需要的能量原则上是用于促进酶上紧密结合的ATP的释放和无机磷、ADP的结合;二是在净ATP形成过程中,酶上的各催化部位是高度协同地顺序起作用的.γ亚基在F₁-ATP酶中的旋转运动使三个催化部位构象不对称是实现结合变化的基础.高分辨率牛心线粒体F₁-ATP酶的晶体结构发表以后,出现了一些支持旋转催化机制的直接实验证据.     

高等植物叶绿体ATP合酶ε亚基的结构与功能

ε亚基是叶绿体ATP合酶最小的一个亚基,有阻塞ATP合酶的质子通道和抑制其水解ATP活力的两种功能.用定点突变和缺失等分子生物学方法对ε亚基的结构功能进行了研究,结果表明:ε亚基42位上的苏氨酸(Thr42)对维持其结构和功能都很重要.与大肠杆菌ATP合酶相比,叶绿体ATP合酶ε亚基C端和N端的氨基酸残基缺失对其结构功能的影响更为敏感.     

ATPase旋转催化运动的随机跃迁动力学研究

ATP合酶既可在跨膜质子势的推动下催化合成ATP,也可以利用水解ATP释放的化学能而充当质子泵,把质子从线粒体基质中输送到内膜外侧,其能量转化效率却高得惊人,几乎达到100%。在旋转分子马达ATP合酶结构为基础上,结合随机主方程方法,提出了描述旋转分子马达ATPase合酶四态随机跃迁不等距旋转催化运动的理论模型;得到其角速度、扩散系数与ATP浓度之间的变化关系,并且得出了符合旋转分子马达生物机理的结果,定性半定量地解释了其动力学行为。     

酵母线粒体ATP合酶生物合成及组装机制研究进展

线粒体ATP合酶是线粒体氧化磷酸化的关键酶,其功能缺陷会导致能量代谢障碍相关的线粒体疾病。线粒体ATP合酶是由多个亚基组成的蛋白复合物,其生物合成和组装是个复杂的生物过程。酵母是研究线粒体ATP合酶结构、生物合成和组装机制的模式实验材料之一,且相关研究取得了很多进展。本文概述了国内外用酿酒酵母研究线粒体ATP合酶的结构、调控线粒体ATP合酶亚基生物合成和组装的辅助蛋白及合酶的模块化组装过程的研究进展,以期为线粒体ATP合酶的工作机制及相关线粒体疾病的研究提供理论借鉴和参考依据。     

高等植物叶绿体ATP合酶ε亚基的结构与功能

ε亚基是叶绿体ATP合酶最小的一个亚基,有阻塞ATP合酶的质子通道和抑制其水解ATP活力的两种功能。用定点突变和缺失等分子生物学方法对ε亚基的结构功能进行了研究,结果表明：ε亚基42位上的苏氨酸(Thr42)对维持其结构和功能都很重要。与大肠杆菌ATP合酶相比,叶绿体ATP合酶ε亚基C端和N端的氨基酸残基缺失对其结构功能的影响更为敏感。     

ATP合酶旋转催化的一种新机制

ATP合酶利用跨膜离子(主要是质子)梯度提供的能量,催化由ADP和Pi(磷酸)合成ATP的反应.已有证据表明,这种催化反应通过ATP合酶内部亚基之间的相对旋转而实现.然而,现有的基于整合在细胞膜内的c环及附着于其上的中心杆(由?和?亚基组成)转动的ATP合酶旋转模型存在多方面的理论缺陷,也与某些实验数据不符.本文提出了一种新的ATP合酶旋转催化模型,其中发生旋转的是?3?3六聚体.具体而言,质子的跨膜转运引起c环的周期性构象改变,从而使得附着在c环上的中心杆产生往复运动,这种往复运动驱动?3?3六聚体的连续转动.这种工作模式与按压式伸缩圆珠笔中推杆的往复运动驱动凸轮产生连续转动的工作机理十分相似.新模型不仅避免了现有模型的理论缺陷,而且更好地解释了已有实验数据.     

Hsp70蛋白自身磷酸化对其分子伴侣功能的影响

近年对分子伴侣蛋白Hsp70作用机制的研究发现,其ATP功能区域X光晶体结构有一个新的钙离子结合区域,这个新的功能区域与Hsp70分子的ADP结合、ATP水解及合成有关.有报道认为Hsp70蛋白的NDP激酶样作用,通过形成酸不稳定性自身磷酸化中间体催化γ 磷酸基团在ATP和ADP间传递,组氨酸H89与这个新的区域有密切关系,有可能与Hsp70蛋白形成自身磷酸化中间体有关.本研究运用基因定位诱导突变技术,将89位组氨酸以丝氨酸替代(H89S),通过比较Hsp70野生型及突变型蛋白的自身磷酸化过程的改变,及其对Hsp70蛋白体外荧光素酶活性影响的不同,初步探讨Hsp70作用机制.结果发现,突变的H89S蛋白自身磷酸化过程及体外变性荧光素酶重折叠受到抑制.野生型蛋白未受到影响,野生型Hsp70可以形成酸不稳定的自身磷酸化中间体,产生CDP依赖性解磷酸反应,而H89S突变型蛋白不能形成这种反应.89位组氨酸点突变能显著降低ATP酶交换反应及体外变性荧光素酶重折叠水平,但它的自身磷酸化可能并非唯一必需的介导位点或只是一个选择性的功能侧链.     

海藻糖合酶的分子生物学研究进展

海藻糖合酶能够将麦芽糖转化为海藻糖,在海藻糖的工业生产中具有十分重要的意义。本文从海藻糖合酶的基因克隆、基因工程应用、结构和催化机制的研究以及其在微生物体内的功能等方面讨论了海藻糖合酶的研究进展。     

蚕豆和玉米叶绿体atpE基因表达产物的生物活性差异及次级结构分析

编码蚕豆和玉米叶绿体ATP合酶ε亚基的atpE基因分别在大肠杆菌中获得了高效表达 ,两种表达的ε亚基蛋白分别与来自蚕豆、玉米和菠菜的缺失ε亚基的CF1重组后 ,发现玉米的ε亚基蛋白在抑制CF1 ATP酶水解ATP、阻塞类囊体膜质子通道以及它促进光合磷酸化等方面均明显地强于蚕豆的ε亚基蛋白。该结果表明 :( 1)ε亚基对ATP合酶活性的调节作用与其同ATP合酶其他亚基间的亲和力大小密切相关 ;( 2 )ε亚基抑制CF1水解ATP和阻塞质子通道两个功能是呈正相关的。圆二色性 (circulardichroism)的分析结果表明 ,玉米CF1ε亚基的 4种二级结构比例为α 螺旋 2 2 .6% ,β 折叠 3 0 .6% ,β 转角 9.3 % ,无规则结构 3 7.7% ;蚕豆CF1ε亚基的 4种二级结构比例为α 螺旋 3 1.4 % ,β 折叠 2 2 .3 % ,β 转角 13 .8% ,无规则结构 3 2 .4 %     

ATP合酶:自然界最小的旋转发动机

ＡＴＰ合酶广泛存在于线粒体、叶绿体、原核藻、异养菌和光合细菌中,是生物体能量代谢的关键酶。该酶分别位于类囊体膜、质膜或线粒体内膜上,参与氧化磷酸化与光合磷酸化反应,在跨膜质子动力势的推动下催化合成生物体的能量“通货”——ＡＴＰ。ＡＴＰ合酶的Ｆ０部分比...     

Mechanism of the F(1)F(0)-type ATP synthase, a biological rotary motor

The F(1)F(0)-type ATP synthase is a key enzyme in cellular energy interconversion. During ATP synthesis, this large protein complex uses a proton gradient and the associated membrane potential to synthesize ATP. It can also reverse and hydrolyze ATP to generate a proton gradient. The structure of this enzyme in different functional forms is now being rapidly elucidated. The emerging consensus is that the enzyme is constructed as two rotary motors, one in the F(1) part that links catalytic site events with movements of an internal rotor, and the other in the F(0) part, linking proton translocation to movements of this F(0) rotor. Although both motors can work separately, they must be connected together to interconvert energy. Evidence for the function of the rotary motor, from structural, genetic and biophysical studies, is reviewed here, and some uncertainties and remaining mysteries of the enzyme mechanism are also discussed.     

Interactions of gamma T273 and gamma E275 with the beta subunit PSAV segment that links the gamma subunit to the catalytic site Walker homology B aspartate are important to the function of Escherichia coli F1F0 ATP synthase

In Escherichia coli F(1)F(o) ATP synthase, gammaT273 mutants that eliminate the ability to form a hydrogen bond to betaV265 were incapable of ATP synthase-dependent growth and ATPase-dependent proton pumping, had very low rates of ATPase activity catalyzed by purified F(1), and had significantly decreased sensitivity to inhibition by Mg(2+)-ADP-AlF(n) species, while gammaT273D and gammaT273N mutants which maintained or increased the hydrogen bond strength maintained or increased catalytic activity. The betaP262G mutation that increases the potential flexibility of the rigid sleeve that surrounds the gamma subunit C-terminus also virtually eliminated ATPase activity and susceptibility to Mg(2+)-ADP-AlF(n) inhibition. The gammaE275 mutants that retained the ability to form the betaV265 hydrogen bond had higher ATPase activity than those that eliminated the hydrogen bond. These results provide evidence that the ability to form hydrogen bonds between betaV265 and the gamma subunit C-terminus contributes significantly to the rate-limiting step of catalysis and to the ability of the F(1)F(o) ATP synthase to use a proton gradient to drive ATP synthesis. The loss of activity observed with betaP262G may result from increased flexibility conferred by glycine that decreases the efficiency of communication between the gamma subunit-betaV265 hydrogen bonds and the Walker B aspartate at the catalytic site. The partial loss of coupling observed with gammaT273 mutants that eliminate the betaV265 hydrogen bond is consistent with participation of this hydrogen bond in the escapement mechanism for ATP synthesis in which interactions between the gamma subunit and (alphabeta)(3) ring prevent rotation until the empty catalytic site binds substrate.     

Conformational change of the chloroplast ATP synthase on the enzyme activation process detected by the trypsin sensitivity of the gamma subunit

Delta mu H(+) is known to stimulate the enzyme activity of chloroplast ATP synthase in addition to its important role as energy supply for ATP synthesis. In the present study, we focused on the relationship between the proton translocation via the membrane sector of ATP synthase, F(o), and the conformational change of the central stalk subunit gamma. The conformational change of CF(1) mainly at the gamma subunit was induced by the proton flow via F(o) in the absence of substrates. The effects of inhibitors on CF(o) or CF(1) for this conformational change were also examined. The observed conformational change was partially suppressed by ADP binding. From these results, we propose the Delta mu H(+)-dependent conformational change of CF(1) on the enzyme activation process, which is affected by both ADP binding to the catalytic sites and proton flow via F(o) portion.     

Rotation and structure of FoF1-ATP synthase

F(o)F(1)-ATP synthase is one of the most ubiquitous enzymes; it is found widely in the biological world, including the plasma membrane of bacteria, inner membrane of mitochondria and thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts. However, this enzyme has a unique mechanism of action: it is composed of two mechanical rotary motors, each driven by ATP hydrolysis or proton flux down the membrane potential of protons. The two molecular motors interconvert the chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis and proton electrochemical potential via the mechanical rotation of the rotary shaft. This unique energy transmission mechanism is not found in other biological systems. Although there are other similar man-made systems like hydroelectric generators, F(o)F(1)-ATP synthase operates on the nanometre scale and works with extremely high efficiency. Therefore, this enzyme has attracted significant attention in a wide variety of fields from bioenergetics and biophysics to chemistry, physics and nanoscience. This review summarizes the latest findings about the two motors of F(o)F(1)-ATP synthase as well as a brief historical background.     

ADP-Inhibition of H<Superscript>+</Superscript>-F<Subscript>O</Subscript>F<Subscript>1</Subscript>-ATP Synthase

H⁺-F_OF₁-ATP synthase (F-ATPase, F-type ATPase, F_OF₁ complex) catalyzes ATP synthesis from ADP and inorganic phosphate in eubacteria, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and some archaea. ATP synthesis is powered by the transmembrane proton transport driven by the proton motive force (PMF) generated by the respiratory or photosynthetic electron transport chains. When the PMF is decreased or absent, ATP synthase catalyzes the reverse reaction, working as an ATP-dependent proton pump. The ATPase activity of the enzyme is regulated by several mechanisms, of which the most conserved is the non-competitive inhibition by the MgADP complex (ADP-inhibition). When ADP binds to the catalytic site without phosphate, the enzyme may undergo conformational changes that lock bound ADP, resulting in enzyme inactivation. PMF can induce release of inhibitory ADP and reactivate ATP synthase; the threshold PMF value required for enzyme reactivation might exceed the PMF for ATP synthesis. Moreover, membrane energization increases the catalytic site affinity to phosphate, thereby reducing the probability of ADP binding without phosphate and preventing enzyme transition to the ADP-inhibited state. Besides phosphate, oxyanions (e.g., sulfite and bicarbonate), alcohols, lauryldimethylamine oxide, and a number of other detergents can weaken ADP-inhibition and increase ATPase activity of the enzyme. In this paper, we review the data on ADP-inhibition of ATP synthases from different organisms and discuss the in vivo role of this phenomenon and its relationship with other regulatory mechanisms, such as ATPase activity inhibition by subunit ε and nucleotide binding in the noncatalytic sites of the enzyme. It should be noted that in Escherichia coli enzyme, ADP-inhibition is relatively weak and rather enhanced than prevented by phosphate.     

Mitochondrial ATP synthase: fifteen years later

Mitochondrial Fo.F1-H+-ATP synthase is the main enzyme responsible for the formation of ATP in aerobic cells. An alternating binding change mechanism is now generally accepted for the operation of the enzyme. This mechanism apparently leaves no room for the participation of nucleotides and Pi other than sequential binding to (release from) the catalytic sites. However, the kinetics of ATP hydrolysis by mitochondrial ATPase is very complex, and it is difficult to explain it in terms of the alternating binding change mechanism only. Fo.F1 catalyzes both delta muH+-dependent ATP synthesis and ATP-dependent delta muH+ generation. It is generally believed that this enzyme operates as the smallest molecular electromechanochemical reversible machine. This essay summarizes data which contradict this simple reversible mechanism and discusses a hypothesis in which different pathways are followed for ATP hydrolysis and ATP synthesis. A model for a reversible switch mechanism between ATP hydrolase and ATP synthase states of Fo. F1 is proposed.     

Synthase (H(+) ATPase): coupling between catalysis, mechanical work, and proton translocation

Coupling with electrochemical proton gradient, ATP synthase (F(0)F(1)) synthesizes ATP from ADP and phosphate. Mutational studies on high-resolution structure have been useful in understanding this complicated membrane enzyme. We discuss mainly the mechanism of catalysis in the beta subunit of F(1) sector and roles of the gamma subunit in energy coupling. The gamma-subunit rotation during catalysis is also discussed.     

Genetic fusions of globular proteins to the epsilon subunit of the Escherichia coli ATP synthase: Implications for in vivo rotational catalysis and epsilon 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 epsilon subunit of the enzyme. According to the concept of rotational catalysis, because epsilon 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. coli cells expressing the cytochrome b(562) fusion in place of wild-type epsilon 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 cytochrome b(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 epsilon generated an uncoupled component of ATPase activity. These results imply that a function of the C terminus of epsilon in F(1)F(0) 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 gammaepsilon in the inappropriate direction after ATP is bound at the catalytic site. It is proposed that the C-terminal domain of epsilon 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.     

New results about structure, function and regulation of the chloroplast ATP synthase (CF0CF1)

The chloroplast ATP synthase utilises the energy of a transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient to drive the synthesis of ATP from ADP and phosphate. This multi-subunit thylakoid membrane-bound enzyme consists of a proton channel, CF₀, and an extrinsic catalytic sector, CF₁. Stimulated by the elucidation of a three-dimensional partial structure of the mitochondrial enzyme, substantial progress has been made to understand the catalytic mechanism and interesting hypotheses have been proposed about the molecular mechanism of energy coupling. The review discusses the present state of knowledge concerning the structure, molecular genetics, catalytic mechanism, energy coupling and regulation of this important enzyme involved in photophosphorylation.