ATPase
ATPase, or adenosine triphosphatase, is a superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi), releasing approximately 7.3 kcal/mol of free energy under standard conditions to power diverse cellular processes.[1][2] This energy release is typically coupled to mechanical or transport functions, such as active ion translocation across membranes or conformational changes in molecular motors, enabling essential activities like maintaining electrochemical gradients, muscle contraction, and protein synthesis.[2] ATPases are ubiquitous across all domains of life, from bacteria to humans, and their activity accounts for a significant portion of cellular ATP consumption, with human cells hydrolyzing 100–150 moles of ATP per day.[2] ATPases are broadly classified into several major families based on structural motifs, catalytic mechanisms, and physiological roles, including P-type, F-type, V-type, and ABC-type.[3] P-type ATPases form a phosphorylated aspartate intermediate during their catalytic cycle and mediate primary active transport of cations like Na+, K+, Ca2+, and H+ across plasma and organelle membranes, exemplified by the Na+/K+-ATPase that establishes membrane potentials vital for nerve impulse transmission.[3][2] F-type ATPases, found in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and bacterial plasma membranes, function primarily as ATP synthases in oxidative or photophosphorylation, using proton gradients to synthesize ATP, though they can reverse to hydrolyze ATP under certain conditions.[3] V-type ATPases (vacuolar-type) are proton pumps that acidify intracellular compartments like lysosomes and endosomes, supporting processes such as endocytosis, protein degradation, and autophagy.[3][4] ABC-type ATPases (ATP-binding cassette) drive the transport of a wide array of substrates, including ions, amino acids, and lipids, across membranes and are involved in cellular homeostasis, detoxification, and antigen presentation.[3] The functional versatility of ATPases underscores their critical role in cellular physiology, where they regulate ion balances, pH homeostasis, vesicle trafficking, and energy transduction.[2][4] Mutations or dysregulation of specific ATPases contribute to human diseases, including heart failure (from Na+/K+-ATPase defects), osteopetrosis (V-ATPase dysfunction), cystic fibrosis (ABC transporters like CFTR), and various cancers linked to altered ion transport and signaling.[3] Ongoing research continues to elucidate their rotary mechanisms, allosteric regulation, and therapeutic potential, highlighting ATPases as key targets for pharmacological intervention.[3]Overview
Definition and Nomenclature
ATPases are a diverse family of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi), releasing free energy that drives various cellular processes:\ce{ATP + H2O -> ADP + Pi + energy}
This enzymatic activity is classified primarily under the Enzyme Commission (EC) numbers 3.6.3.- for ATP hydrolases acting on acid anhydrides without translocation and 7.1.2.- for certain proton-translocating ATPases, reflecting updates in the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) nomenclature to account for their roles in ion transport.[5] The nomenclature of ATPases derives from their functional role as ATP phosphohydrolases, with the general Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number 9000-83-3 assigned to adenosine triphosphatase.[6] Specific subtypes are denoted by letters indicating structural and mechanistic features, such as P-type (phosphorylating) ATPases, F-type (factor-dependent) ATPases, V-type (vacuolar) ATPases, and A-type (archaeal) ATPases, each linked to dedicated entries in biochemical databases like BRENDA and KEGG for detailed annotation and pathway integration.[7] These classifications facilitate the organization of the superfamily based on shared catalytic domains and transport capabilities. A key distinction exists between ATPases and ATP synthases: while ATPases predominantly hydrolyze ATP to perform work such as ion pumping or mechanical motion, ATP synthases—often reversible F-type ATPases—can operate in the opposite direction, synthesizing ATP from ADP and Pi using a proton motive force across membranes.[8] This reversibility highlights the bidirectional potential of certain rotary ATPases but underscores that ATPases are defined by their hydrolysis-dominant function in most physiological contexts.[9] ATPases exhibit remarkable evolutionary conservation, with homologs present across all domains of life, from prokaryotes like bacteria and archaea to eukaryotes, reflecting their ancient origin and essential role in energy homeostasis predating the last universal common ancestor.[10] This broad distribution is evidenced by phylogenetic analyses of core subunits, which trace rotary mechanisms back over 3.5 billion years.[11]