Pause and rotation of F1-ATPase during catalysis

FI-ATPase is a rotary motor enzyme in which a single ATP molecule drives a 120 degrees rotation of the central gamma subunit relative to the surrounding alpha (3)beta (3) ring. Here, we show that the rotation of F-1-ATPase spontaneously lapses into long (approximate to 30 s) pauses during steady-state catalysis. The effects of ADP-Mg and mutation on the pauses, as well as kinetic comparison with bulk-phase catalysis, strongly indicate that the paused enzyme corresponds to the inactive state of F-1-ATPase previously known as the ADP-Mg inhibited form in which F-1-ATPase fails to release ADP-Mg from catalytic sites. The pausing position of the gamma subunit deviates from the ATP-waiting position and is most likely the recently found intermediate 90 degrees position.