FoF1-ATP synthase is the enzyme that provides the chemical energy currency adenosine triphosphate, ATP, for living cells. The formation of ATP is accomplished by a stepwise internal rotation of subunits within the enzyme. Briefly, proton translocatio
n through the membrane-bound Fo part of ATP synthase drives a 10-step rotary motion of the ring of c subunits with respect to the non-rotating subunits a and b. This rotation is transmitted to the gamma and epsilon subunits of the F1 sector resulting in 120 degree steps. In order to unravel this symmetry mismatch we monitor subunit rotation by a single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) approach using three fluorophores specifically attached to the enzyme: one attached to the F1 motor, another one to the Fo motor, and the third one to a non-rotating subunit. To reduce photophysical artifacts due to spectral fluctuations of the single fluorophores, a duty cycle-optimized alternating three-laser scheme (DCO-ALEX) has been developed. Simultaneous observation of the stepsizes for both motors allows the detection of reversible elastic deformations between the rotor parts of Fo and F1.
The conformational kinetics of enzymes can be reliably revealed when they are governed by Markovian dynamics. Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) are appropriate especially in the case of conformational states that are hardly distinguishable. However, the ev
olution of the conformational states of proteins mostly shows non-Markovian behavior, recognizable by non-monoexponential state dwell time histograms. The application of a Hidden Markov Model technique to a cyclic system demonstrating semi-Markovian dynamics is presented in this paper and the required extension of the model design is discussed. As standard ranking criteria of models cannot deal with these systems properly, a new approach is proposed considering the shape of the dwell time histograms. We observed the rotational kinetics of a single F1-ATPase alpha3beta3gamma sub-complex over six orders of magnitude of different ATP to ADP and Pi concentration ratios, and established a general model describing the kinetics for the entire range of concentrations. The HMM extension described here is applicable in general to the accurate analysis of protein dynamics.
Conformational changes of single proteins are monitored in real time by Forster-type resonance energy transfer, FRET. Two different fluorophores have to be attached to those protein domains, which move during function. The distance between the fluoro
phores is measured by relative fluorescence intensity changes of FRET donor and acceptor fluorophore, or by fluorescence lifetime changes of the FRET donor. The fluorescence spectrum of a single FRET donor fluorophore is influenced by local protein environment dynamics causing apparent fluorescence intensity changes on the FRET donor and acceptor detector channels. To discriminate between those spectral fluctuations and distance-dependent FRET, alternating pulsed excitation schemes (ALEX) have recently been introduced which simultaneously probe the existence of a FRET acceptor fluorophore. Here we employ single-molecule FRET measurements to a membrane protein. The membrane-embedded KdpFABC complex transports potassium ions across a lipid bilayer using ATP hydrolysis. Our study aims at the observation of conformational fluctuations within a single P-type ATPase functionally reconstituted into liposomes by single-molecule FRET and analysis by Hidden-Markov-Models.
Confocal time resolved single-molecule spectroscopy using pulsed laser excitation and synchronized multi channel time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) provides detailed information about the conformational changes of a biological motor in re
al time. We studied the formation of adenosine triphosphate, ATP, from ADP and phosphate by FoF1-ATP synthase. The reaction is performed by a stepwise internal rotation of subunits of the lipid membrane-embedded enzyme. Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer, FRET, we detected rotation of this biological motor by sequential changes of intramolecular distances within a single FoF1-ATP synthase. Prolonged observation times of single enzymes were achieved by functional immobilization to the glass surface. The stepwise rotary subunit movements were identified by Hidden Markov Models (HMM) which were trained with single-molecule FRET trajectories. To improve the accuracy of the HMM analysis we included the single-molecule fluorescence lifetime of the FRET donor and used alternating laser excitation to co-localize the FRET acceptor independently within a photon burst. The HMM analysis yielded the orientations and dwell times of rotary subunits during stepwise rotation. In addition, the action mode of bactericidal drugs, i.e. inhibitors of FoF1-ATP synthase like aurovertin, could be investigated by the time resolved single-molecule FRET approach.
