Mechanism of ATP hydrolysis dependent rotation of ATP synthases

F 1 domain of ATP synthase is a rotary ATPase complex in which rotation of central γ-subunit proceeds in 120° steps against a surrounding α 3 β 3 fueled by ATP hydrolysis. How the ATP hydrolysis reactions occurring in three catalytic αβ dimers are coupled to mechanical rotation is a key outstanding question. Here we describe catalytic intermediates of the F 1 domain during ATP mediated rotation captured using cryo-EM. The structures reveal that three catalytic events and the first 80° rotation occur simultaneously in F 1 domain when nucleotides are bound at all the three catalytic αβ dimers. The remaining 40° rotation of the complete 120° step is driven by completion of ATP hydrolysis at α D β D , and proceeds through three sub-steps ( 83° , 91° , 101° , and 120° ) with three associated conformational intermediates. All sub-steps except for one between 91° and 101° associated with phosphate release, occur independently of the chemical cycle, suggesting that the 40° rotation is largely driven by release of intramolecular strain accumulated by the 80° rotation. Together with our previous results, these findings provide the molecular basis of ATP driven rotation of ATP synthases.