Direct observation of the rotation of F₁-ATPase

Cells employ a variety of linear motors, such as myosin, kinesin and RNA polymerase, which move along and exert force on a filamentous structure. But only one rotary motor has been investigated in detail, the bacterial flagellum (a complex of about 100 protein molecules). We now show that a single molecule of F₁-ATPase acts as a rotary motor, the smallest known, by direct observation of its motion. A central rotor of radius ~1 nm, formed by its γ-subunit, turns in a stator barrel of radius ~5 nm formed by three α- and three β-subunits. F₁-ATPase, together with the membrane-embedded proton-conducting unit F₀, forms the H⁺-ATP synthase that reversibly couples transmembrane proton flow to ATP synthesis/hydrolysis in respiring and photosynthetic cells. It has been suggested that the γ-subunit of F₁- ATPase rotates within the αβ-hexamer, a conjecture supported by structural, biochemical and spectroscopic studies. We attached a fluorescent actin filament to the γ-subunit as a marker, which enabled us to observe this motion directly. In the presence of ATP, the filament rotated for more than 100 revolutions in an anticlockwise direction when viewed from the 'membrane' side. The rotary torque produced reached more than 40 pN nm^-1 under high load.