Coupling of Rotation and Catalysis in F1-ATPase Revealed by Single-Molecule Imaging and Manipulation

F(1)-ATPase is a rotary molecular motor that proceeds in 120 degrees steps, each driven by ATP hydrolysis. How the chemical reactions that occur in three catalytic sites are coupled to mechanical rotation is the central question. Here, we show by high-speed imaging of rotation in single molecules of F(1) that phosphate release drives the last 40 degrees of the 120 degrees step, and that the 40 degrees rotation accompanies reduction of the affinity for phosphate. We also show, by single-molecule imaging of a fluorescent ATP analog Cy3-ATP while F(1) is forced to rotate slowly, that release of Cy3-ADP occurs at approximately 240 degrees after it is bound as Cy3-ATP at 0 degrees . This and other results suggest that the affinity for ADP also decreases with rotation, and thus ADP release contributes part of energy for rotation. Together with previous results, the coupling scheme is now basically complete.