Dimeric assembly of F<sub>1</sub>-like ATPase for the gliding motility of <i>Mycoplasma</i>.

Toyonaga, Takuma; Kato, Takayuki; Kawamoto, Akihiro; Miyata, Tomoko; Kawakami, Keisuke; Fujita, Junso; Hamaguchi, Tasuku; Namba, Keiichi et al. · Sci Adv · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Rotary ATPases, including F<sub>1</sub>F<sub>O</sub>-, V<sub>1</sub>V<sub>O</sub>-, and A<sub>1</sub>A<sub>O</sub>-ATPases, are molecular motors that exhibit rotational movements for energy conversion. In the gliding bacterium, <i>Mycoplasma mobile</i>, a dimeric F<sub>1</sub>-like ATPase forms a chain structure within the cell, which is proposed to drive the gliding motility. However, the mechanisms of force generation and transmission remain unclear. We determined the electron cryomicroscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the dimeric F<sub>1</sub>-like ATPase complex. The structure revealed an assembly distinct from those of dimeric F<sub>1</sub>F<sub>O</sub>-ATPases. The F<sub>1</sub>-like ATPase unit associated by two subunits GliD and GliE was named G<sub>1</sub>-ATPase as an R<sub>1</sub> domain of rotary ATPases. G<sub>1</sub>-β subunit, a homolog of the F<sub>1</sub>-ATPase catalytic subunit, exhibited a specific N-terminal region that incorporates the glycolytic enzyme, phosphoglycerate kinase into the complex. Structural features of the ATPase displayed strong similarities to F<sub>1</sub>-ATPase, suggesting a rotation based on the rotary catalytic mechanism. Overall, the cryo-EM structure provides insights into the mechanism through which G<sub>1</sub>-ATPase drives the <i>Mycoplasma</i> gliding motility.

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