What causes the ATP synthase to spin?

The Fo rotor spins in response to proton (H+) flow down a concentration gradient across the membrane. This rotation causes the central stalk (axle) to rotate, altering the conformation of components of the F1 base, driving the synthesis of ATP.

Is ATP synthase a rotating motor?

Key Points. ATP synthase is a ubiquitous, highly conserved enzyme that catalyses the formation of ATP from ADP and Pi using a unique rotary motor mechanism. The enzyme is located in the inner membrane of mitochondria, in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts, and in the plasma membrane of bacteria.

What happens as ATP synthase spins?

A rotation of 120° changes the β subunit that binds ADP and Pi to a form with tightly bound ATP. The subunit with tightly bound ATP then changes to a form that releases ATP, and the third subunit prepares to bind another ADP and Pi.

How many times does ATP synthase spin?

Each catalytic site would transition through the three conformations during a 360° rotation, and a different site would complete its cycle every 120° rotation. This model implies that three ATP are hydrolyzed or synthesized for each 360° rotation.

What drives the rotation of the F1 head of ATP synthase?

What drives the rotation of the F1 head of ATP synthase? Proton movement from intermembrane space to the matrix.

Does the C ring of ATP synthase rotate?

Abstract. F1F0 ATP synthases generate ATP by a rotary catalytic mechanism in which H+ transport is coupled to rotation of an oligomeric ring of c subunits extending through the membrane.

Does ATP synthase use mechanical energy?

During ATP synthesis, the FO sector of the ATP synthase machinery converts the electrochemical energy of either protons or sodium ions into mechanical energy of a rotor; in turn, this energy is converted into chemical energy of ATP by the F1 sector (Gruber et al.

When protons travel through the F0 complex which portions of the ATP synthase rotate?

Passage of protons through the F0 complex is believed to cause the γ subunit of the F1 complex to rotate relative to the α3β3 assembly, with each 120° turn driving the release of an ATP molecule.

What drives the rotation of the C ring?

Rotation of the c10 oligomeric ring is driven by the proton-motive force. Protons enter the assembly through the periplasmic inlet channel and bind to the Asp-61 carboxylate (open circle).

What type of energy is the rotation of ATP synthase turbine?

ATP synthase works as a turbine to convert energy stored in a proton gradient into chemical energy (kinetic energy) found in the bond energy of ATP. In an ATP synthase molecular machine, protons flow down an electrochemical gradient and drive a rotator found in the membrane.

How does ATP synthase operate?

ATP is the main energy molecule used in cells. ATP synthase forms ATP from adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and an inorganic phosphate (Pi) through oxidative phosphorylation, which is a process in which enzymes oxidize nutrients to form ATP. ATP synthase is found in all lifeforms and powers all cellular activities.

How is ATP synthase driven?

The ATP synthase is a mitochondrial enzyme localized in the inner membrane, where it catalyzes the synthesis of ATP from ADP and phosphate, driven by a flux of protons across a gradient generated by electron transfer from the proton chemically positive to the negative side.

Does the C ring rotate in ATP synthase?

How does ATP synthase converts chemical energy to mechanical energy?

ATP synthase comprises two rotary motors in one. The F1 motor can generate a mechanical torque using the hydrolysis energy of ATP. The Fo motor generates a rotary torque in the opposite direction, but it employs a transmembrane proton motive force.

Which of the following causes ATP synthase to spin and make ATP due to its movement across the membrane from the intermembrane space to the matrix?

The correct answer is (c) H+ ion.

What is the rotation engine of ATP synthase?

Rotation engine of ATP synthase. Located within the thylakoid membrane and the inner mitochondrial membrane, ATP synthase consists of two regions F O and F 1. F O causes rotation of F 1 and is made of c-ring and subunits a, b, d, F6.

How is ATP synthase able to make ATPs?

ATP synthase is so small that it is able to manipulate these tiny molecules, one at a time. ATP synthase must convert some other form of energy into new ATPs. This energy is in the form of a hydrogen ion (H+) gradient, which is generated by a different whole protein system to ATP synthase.

How many active sites are there in ATP synthase?

Figure 2: Ribbon diagram of a top view of the head portion of ATP synthase, called “F 1 -ATPase”. It has six protein subunits, and consists of three active sites, where three ATP molecules are formed for each full rotation of the axle.

Is the ATP synthase complex in a kinetic or molecular mode?

In such a dynamic system as the ATP synthase complex, extensive conformational studies must be done in a kinetic mode so that different enzymatic and transport states can be correlated to structural states. Some such states have been elucidated for the catalytic F1sector [2, 25, 88] but there is a disturbing lack of differences in the structures.