Mechanically driven ATP synthesis by F1-ATPase

ATP, the main biological energy currency, is synthesized from ADP and inorganic phosphate by ATP synthase in an energy-requiring reaction. The F1 portion of ATP synthase, also known as F1-ATPase, functions as a rotary molecular motor: in vitro its gamma-subunit rotates against the surrounding alpha3beta3 subunits, hydrolysing ATP in three separate catalytic sites on the beta-subunits. It is widely believed that reverse rotation of the gamma-subunit, driven by proton flow through the associated F(o) portion of ATP synthase, leads to ATP synthesis in biological systems. Here we present direct evidence for the chemical synthesis of ATP driven by mechanical energy. We attached a magnetic bead to the gamma-subunit of isolated F1 on a glass surface, and rotated the bead using electrical magnets. Rotation in the appropriate direction resulted in the appearance of ATP in the medium as detected by the luciferase-luciferin reaction. This shows that a vectorial force (torque) working at one particular point on a protein machine can influence a chemical reaction occurring in physically remote catalytic sites, driving the reaction far from equilibrium.     

ATP合成酶及其功能机制综述

在细胞能量转变过程中，F1F0-型ATP合成酶是一个关键酶。在ATP合成过程中，这个大的蛋白复合体利用质子梯度和相关的膜电势来合成ATP。这个酶结构的不同作用形式正在逐步阐明。一致的看法是这个酶由两个旋转发动机构成，一个在F1上，它将催化过程与内部的转子运动联系在一起，另一个在F0上，它将质子迁移与F0转子的运动联系在一起。虽然两个马达可以独立工作，但是它们必须结合在一起才能转换能量。从结构、基因和生化物理方面的研究中得出的关于这个旋转马达的功能的证据，在这里将作一个回顾，一些不确定的，关于酶机制尚留迷团的内容也将讨论如下。     

Structural changes linked to proton translocation by subunit c of the ATP synthase

F1F0 ATP synthases use a transmembrane proton gradient to drive the synthesis of cellular ATP. The structure of the cytosolic F1 portion of the enzyme and the basic mechanism of ATP hydrolysis by F1 are now well established, but how proton translocation through the transmembrane F0 portion drives these catalytic changes is less clear. Here we describe the structural changes in the proton-translocating F0 subunit c that are induced by deprotonating the specific aspartic acid involved in proton transport. Conformational changes between the protonated and deprotonated forms of subunit c provide the structural basis for an explicit mechanism to explain coupling of proton translocation by F0 to the rotation of subunits within the core of F1. Rotation of these subunits within F1 causes the catalytic conformational changes in the active sites of F1 that result in ATP synthesis.     

离轴共焦非稳腔激光远场分布的腔镜倾斜容限研究

以波函数坐标变换理论和快速傅里叶算法为基础,在考虑腔镜倾斜情况下对离轴共焦非稳腔的光场计算进行了修正。利用修正后的计算方法模拟了腔镜M1倾斜不同角度及不同方向倾斜时远场光强分布,并分析了远场模式的变化。理论分析表明,离轴共焦非稳腔的腔镜倾斜失调容限在顺时针和逆时针方向上是不同的,腔镜M1逆时针倾斜的失调容限大于顺时针倾斜的失调容限,这与共轴共焦非稳腔是有显著区别的     

Absolute plate motions and true polar wander in the absence of hotspot tracks

The motion of continents relative to the Earth's spin axis may be due either to rotation of the entire Earth relative to its spin axis--true polar wander--or to the motion of individual plates. In order to distinguish between these over the past 320 Myr (since the formation of the Pangaea supercontinent), we present here computations of the global average of continental motion and rotation through time in a palaeomagnetic reference frame. Two components are identified: a steady northward motion and, during certain time intervals, clockwise and anticlockwise rotations, interpreted as evidence for true polar wander. We find approximately 18 degrees anticlockwise rotation about 250-220 Myr ago and the same amount of clockwise rotation about 195-145 Myr ago. In both cases the rotation axis is located at about 10-20 degrees W, 0 degrees N, near the site that became the North American-South American-African triple junction at the break-up of Pangaea. This was followed by approximately 10 degrees clockwise rotation about 145-135 Myr ago, followed again by the same amount of anticlockwise rotation about 110-100 Myr ago, with a rotation axis in both cases approximately 25-50 degrees E in the reconstructed area of North Africa and Arabia. These rotation axes mark the maxima of the degree-two non-hydrostatic geoid during those time intervals, and the fact that the overall net rotation since 320 Myr ago is nearly zero is an indication of long-term stability of the degree-two geoid and related mantle structure. We propose a new reference frame, based on palaeomagnetism, but corrected for the true polar wander identified in this study, appropriate for relating surface to deep mantle processes from 320 Myr ago until hotspot tracks can be used (about 130 Myr ago).     

Resolution of distinct rotational substeps by submillisecond kinetic analysis of F1-ATPase

The enzyme F1-ATPase has been shown to be a rotary motor in which the central gamma-subunit rotates inside the cylinder made of alpha3beta3 subunits. At low ATP concentrations, the motor rotates in discrete 120 degrees steps, consistent with sequential ATP hydrolysis on the three beta-subunits. The mechanism of stepping is unknown. Here we show by high-speed imaging that the 120 degrees step consists of roughly 90 degrees and 30 degrees substeps, each taking only a fraction of a millisecond. ATP binding drives the 90 degrees substep, and the 30 degrees substep is probably driven by release of a hydrolysis product. The two substeps are separated by two reactions of about 1 ms, which together occupy most of the ATP hydrolysis cycle. This scheme probably applies to rotation at full speed ( approximately 130 revolutions per second at saturating ATP) down to occasional stepping at nanomolar ATP concentrations, and supports the binding-change model for ATP synthesis by reverse rotation of F1-ATPase.     

Subnanometre-resolution structure of the intact Thermus thermophilus H+-driven ATP synthase

Ion-translocating rotary ATPases serve either as ATP synthases, using energy from a transmembrane ion motive force to create the cell's supply of ATP, or as transmembrane ion pumps that are powered by ATP hydrolysis. The members of this family of enzymes each contain two rotary motors: one that couples ion translocation to rotation and one that couples rotation to ATP synthesis or hydrolysis. During ATP synthesis, ion translocation through the membrane-bound region of the complex causes rotation of a central rotor that drives conformational changes and ATP synthesis in the catalytic region of the complex. There are no structural models available for the intact membrane region of any ion-translocating rotary ATPase. Here we present a 9.7?? resolution map of the H(+)-driven ATP synthase from Thermus thermophilus obtained by electron cryomicroscopy of single particles in ice. The 600-kilodalton complex has an overall subunit composition of A(3)B(3)CDE(2)FG(2)IL(12). The membrane-bound motor consists of a ring of L subunits and the carboxy-terminal region of subunit I, which are equivalent to the c and a subunits of most other rotary ATPases, respectively. The map shows that the ring contains 12 L subunits and that the I subunit has eight transmembrane helices. The L(12) ring and I subunit have a surprisingly small contact area in the middle of the membrane, with helices from the I subunit making contacts with two different L subunits. The transmembrane helices of subunit I form bundles that could serve as half-channels across the membrane, with the first half-channel conducting protons from the periplasm to the L(12) ring and the second half-channel conducting protons from the L(12) ring to the cytoplasm. This structure therefore suggests the mechanism by which a transmembrane proton motive force is converted to rotation in rotary ATPases.     

落叶收集处理机的设计

落叶收集处理机的能源装置通过传动系统将运动传给两侧扫筒,使其分别做顺时针和逆时针转动,将两侧的落叶集中于中间,由中间的滚刷将落叶扫入机器内,组合挤压传送带将扫入的落叶夹送至粉碎机里,由粉碎机将落叶粉碎并存入收集箱里,从而实现对落叶收集、处理的功能。由于其具备升降功能,可以适应各类路面。     

E. coli F1-ATPase interacts with a membrane protein component of a proton channel

The ATP synthases of bacteria, mitochondria and chloroplasts, which use the energy of a transmembrane proton gradient to power the synthesis of ATP, consist of an integral membrane component F0--thought to contain a proton channel--and a catalytic component, F1. To help investigate the way F0 and F1 are coupled, we have sequenced the b-subunit of the Escherichia coli F0, which seems to be the counterpart of a thermophilic bacteria F0 subunit thought to be essential for F1 binding. We report here that its sequence is remarkable, being hydrophobic around the N-terminus and highly charged in the remainder. We propose that the N-terminal segment lies in the membrane and the rest outside. The extramembranous section contains two adjacent stretches of 31 amino acids where the sequence is very similar: in the second of these stretches there is further internal homology. These duplicated stretches of the polypeptide probably fold into two alpha-helices which have many common features able to make contact with F1 subunits. Thus protein b occupies a central position in the enzyme, where it may be involved in proton translocation. It is possibly also important in biosynthetic assembly.     

轴向磁场中弱自转对电弧的螺旋不稳定性的影响

为了明确弱自转对电弧的螺旋不稳定性的影响，采用势物型电导率和与时间有关的线性微扰理论，给出了有弱自转存在的热热分布（温度分布）、稳定性条件以及不稳定性增长率等定量结果；得出了迎着外加磁场方向，自转为顺时针方向时，稳定区域增大；反之，减小。     

青藏高原东北边缘黄土磁化率各向异性揭示古风向的初步研究

利用磁化率各向异性系统地研究了黄土沉积时的近地面风向。根据兰州、临夏、武都三个典型剖面共计１４０个风成黄土样品的磁化率各向异性的研究发现青藏高原东北边缘地区各时代黄土沉积的近地面风向是各不相同的，自早更新世中期到中更新世直至晚更新世，随着时间的推移，古风向都存在着一个明显的逆时针方向的改变。究其原因，这可能与青藏高原的隆起和局地特殊的地形效应以及环流形式的调整有关。     

Abrupt changes in flagellar rotation observed by laser dark-field microscopy

Bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium swim by rotating their flagella, each of which consists of an external helical filament and a rotary motor embedded in the cell surface. The function of the flagellar motor has been examined mainly by tethering the flagellar filament to a glass slide and observing the resultant rotation of the cell body. But under these conditions the motor operates at a very low speed (about 10 r.p.s.) owing to the unnaturally high load conditions inherent in this technique. Lowe et al. analysed the frequency of light scattered from swimming cells to estimate the average rotation speed of flagellar bundles of E. coli as about 270 r.p.s. To analyse motor function in more detail, however, measurement of high-speed rotation of a single flagellum (at low load) with a temporal resolution better than 1 ms is needed. We have now developed a new method--laser dark-field microscopy--which fulfils these requirements. We find that although the average rotation speed of S. typhimurium flagella is rather stable, there are occasional abrupt slowdowns, pauses and reversals (accomplished within 1 ms). These changes were frequently observed in mutants defective in one of the motor components (called the switch complex), suggesting that this component is important not only in switching rotational direction but also in torque generation or regulation.     

方管内混合对流与管壁导热耦合换热的数值模拟

针对方管内空气混合对流时的流固耦合换热问题,提出将壁面导热作为边界条件进行处理的壁面导热与流动耦合简化计算方法,推导了计算公式,并采用SIMPLER算法进行了数值模拟.算法忽略壁面沿厚度方向的导热,假设管壁温度沿轴向一维分布,采用热量平衡法建立边界单元的能量守恒方程,将固体区域的导热简化为流体区域的边界条件,以提高计算的精度和可靠性.计算结果表明,受二次流影响,沿通道周向热量从加热面同时沿顺时针和逆时针方向迅速向两边传递,各壁面最大温差小于0.5℃,在轴向归一化长度为2～4时壁面轴向导热热流密度出现最值.平均Nusselt数Num随Reynolds数Re及方管倾斜角度θ的增大而增大,最优倾角在-30°和0°之间变化,但当Re＞1 500时,Num随θ的变化近似保持不变.计算结果与实验数据吻合良好,最大偏差小于±28.7％.     

Myosin-V is a processive actin-based motor.

Class-V myosins, one of 15 known classes of actin-based molecular motors, have been implicated in several forms of organelle transport, perhaps working with microtubule-based motors such as kinesin. Such movements may require a motor with mechanochemical properties distinct from those of myosin-II, which operates in large ensembles to drive high-speed motility as in muscle contraction. Based on its function and biochemistry, it has been suggested that myosin-V may be a processive motor like kinesin. Processivity means that the motor undergoes multiple catalytic cycles and coupled mechanical advances for each diffusional encounter with its track. This allows single motors to support movement of an organelle along its track. Here we provide direct evidence that myosin-V is indeed a processive actin-based motor that can move in large steps approximating the 36-nm pseudo-repeat of the actin filament.     

Direct observation of the clockwise light-driven rotation of F<Subscript>0</Subscript>F<Subscript>1</Subscript>-ATP synthase complex

The purified thermophilic bacterium PS3 F₁ β _10×His-tag is inserted into the F_oF₁-ATP synthases of chro-matophores isolated from photosynthetic bacteria Rhodo-spirillum rubrum. The studies of biochemical properties of the hybrid chromatophores show that they have both protons-driving capability and photophosphorylation. The fluorescent actin filaments, as a marker of its orientation by video-microscopic experiment, are connected via Maleimido-C₃-NTA to the reconstituted β_10×His-tag of F_oF₁-ATP synthases. The clockwise rotation of F_oF₁-ATP synthases driven by light is observed directly when viewed from the F_o side to F₁. This system should be valuable for further studying the coupling property of F_oF₁-ATP synthase.     

大加速度场中燃烧过程的计算机仿真

提出了大加速度场中燃烧过程的计算机仿真 ,建立了大加速度场中二维层流燃烧的数学模型 ,对控制方程组进行离散 ,采用SIMPLE算法和交错网格设计并调试程序。在调试成功的程序上进行了丙烷和空气混合气在大加速度场中燃烧的模拟实验。对比了大加速度场中燃烧与非大加速度场情况下的不同 ,当离心力与流速方向相反时 ,流场上流的回流方向为顺时针 ,下游有一顺时针方向的回流区 ,随着加速度的加大 ,两个回流区之间又出现一个逆时针方向的回流区 ,并逐渐加大 ,直到流场紊乱     

小江断裂带及其周边地区构造应力场特征

 应用Snoke方法计算了2000—2009年发生在小江断裂带及其周边地区的55个中小地震震源机制解.根据震源机制解分析,该区震源错动类型主要为走滑型,其次是逆断型,与小江断裂左旋走滑运动相符.整个区域主要受到近水平的北北西—南南东向挤压,自北向南主压应力轴方位从南东转为南南东,与川滇菱形块体沿南东—南南东向的走滑和旋转运动相一致.另外,构造应力方向在0~20 km内有从北西西转为北北西的趋势,考虑力轴仰角无明显变化,认为构造应力在此深度内是相对连续的.     

A novel permanent magnetic bearing and its anti-wear effect in impeller total artificial heart

A novel permanent magnetic bearing has been developed, which consists of two magnetic rings with differenl dimensions in the same direction of axial magnetization, located concentrically. Because of the effect of magnetic field, the magnetic rings keep a distance axially from each other. If the distance between the two rings changes, a rehabilitalion force is produced to return to the original po-sition. When this distance decreases, a repeiling force will be generated; its component in axial direction can be used as a magnetic spring and its radial component can function as a bearing. With this novel permanent magnetic bearing, an impeller totai artificial beart (TAH) is designed, manufactured and tested. The rotation is driven radially. On the left and right sides of the rotor magnets, two small magnetic rings are fixed onto the rotor, coupling with two big magnetic rings on both sides of the motor coil, to form the magnetic bearings. Hereby the bearings are used for wear reduction rather than rotor l     

液晶的磁旋光特性

为深入了解液晶的磁旋光特性，利用矩阵方法分析研究了液晶的旋光效应，导出了液晶旋光的矩阵表示．通过测量磁场作用下向列型液晶的旋光角及透射比，研究了液晶的磁旋光特性．详细分析了磁场对液晶分子轴旋转和透射比的影响，做出了液晶分子轴旋转角和透射比与磁场强度关系的曲线．通过改变磁场方向进行实验测试．发现液晶的旋光方向与垂直入射液晶盒的磁场方向无关。     

基于变磁力单元的磁力控制方法及数值研究

为提高永磁吸附式管外壁爬行机器人运行过程中的吸附力稳定性,解决吸附能力与运动灵活性之间的矛盾,对变磁力吸附单元结构进行了研究.通过建立变磁力吸附单元有限元模型,并分析圆柱磁体的旋转角度和衔铁气隙距离对磁吸附力的影响,应用MATLAB软件拟合出磁力控制函数的数学模型.运用此数学模型控制伺服电机,使任意气隙间距下都反馈出相应的伺服电机旋转角度,进而控制磁吸附力大小,保证机器人爬行过程中磁吸附力的稳定.通过测量实验,表明此磁力控制方法可行有效.