Refined measurement of SecA-driven protein transport reveals indirect coupling to ATP turnover

The universally conserved Sec system is the primary method cells utilise to transport proteins across membranes. Until recently, measuring the activity – a prerequisite for understanding how biological systems works – has been limited to discontinuous protein transport assays with poor time resolution, or used as reporters large, non-natural tags that interfere with the process. The development of an assay based on a split super-bright luciferase (NanoLuc) changed this. Here, we exploit this technology to unpick the steps that constitute post-translational transport in bacteria. Under the conditions deployed, transport of the model pre-protein substrate proSpy occurs at 200 amino acids per minute with the data best fit by a series of large, ∼30 amino acid, steps each coupled to many (100s) ATP hydrolysis events. Prior to that, there is no evidence for a distinct, rate-limiting initiation event. Kinetic modelling suggests that SecA-driven transport activity is facilitated by the substrate (polypeptide) concentration gradient – in keeping with classical membrane transporters. Furthermore, the features we describe are consistent with a non-deterministic motor mechanism, such as a Brownian ratchet.