Efficiently driving F$_1$ molecular motor in experiment by suppressing nonequilibrium variation

Abstract

F$_1$-ATPase (F$_1$) is central to cellular energy transduction. Forcibly rotated by another motor F$_\mathrm{o}$, F$_1$ catalyzes ATP synthesis by converting mechanical work into chemical free energy stored in the molecule ATP. The details of how F$_\mathrm{o}$ drives F$_1$ are not fully understood; however, evaluating efficient ways to rotate F$_1$ could provide fruitful insights into this driving since there is a selective pressure to improve efficiency. Here, we show that rotating F$_1$ with an angle clamp is significantly more efficient than a constant torque. Our experiments, combined with theory and simulation, indicate that the angle clamp significantly suppresses the nonequilibrium variation that contributes to the futile dissipation of input work.