Abstract
Multi-subunit ring-shaped ATPases are molecular motors that harness chemical free energy to perform vital mechanical tasks such as polypeptide translocation, DNA unwinding, and chromosome segregation. Previously we reported the intersubunit coordination and stepping behavior of the hexameric ring-shaped ATPase SpoIIIE (Liu et al., 2015). Here we use optical tweezers to characterize the motor's mechanochemistry. Analysis of the motor response to external force at various nucleotide concentrations identifies phosphate release as the likely force-generating step. Analysis of SpoIIIE pausing indicates that pauses are off-pathway events. Characterization of SpoIIIE slipping behavior reveals that individual motor subunits engage DNA upon ATP binding. Furthermore, we find that SpoIIIE's velocity exhibits an intriguing bi-phasic dependence on force. We hypothesize that this behavior is an adaptation of ultra-fast motors tasked with translocating DNA from which they must also remove DNA-bound protein roadblocks. Based on these results, we formulate a comprehensive mechanochemical model for SpoIIIE.
Highlights
Many cellular tasks are mechanical in nature, including nucleic acid/polypeptide translocation, nucleic acid strand separation, and chromosome segregation
We find that SpoIIIE can operate against forces up to 50 pN (Figure 1B), similar to other dsDNA translocases, including FtsK and the DNA packaging motors from bacteriophages T4, l, and j29 (Fuller et al, 2007a; 2007b; Saleh et al, 2004; Smith et al, 2001)
A model with a single force-sensitive transition is inconsistent with the bi-phasic force-velocity dependence we observe for SpoIIIE because: (i) it predicts a monotonic decrease in velocity with force and poorly fits the data (Figure 2C, dashed gray curve), and (ii) it requires more free energy per power stroke than is released by hydrolyzing one Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)
Summary
Many cellular tasks are mechanical in nature, including nucleic acid/polypeptide translocation, nucleic acid strand separation, and chromosome segregation. Performing these tasks are a diverse range of molecular motor proteins, including the ring-shaped NTPases from the ASCE division of molecular motors (Liu et al, 2015, Liu et al, 2014a). These enzymes typically hydrolyze Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and utilize the free energy released upon hydrolysis to perform mechanical work (Bustamante et al, 2004). The detailed mechano-chemical coupling underlying the operation of ultra-fast ATPases like SpoIIIE/FtsK remains largely unknown
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