The catalytic dwell in ATPases is not crucial for movement against applied torque

The ATPase-catalysed conversion of ATP to ADP is a fundamental process in biology. During the hydrolysis of ATP, the alpha(3)beta(3)domain undergoes conformational changes while the central stalk (gamma/D) rotates unidirectionally. Experimental studies have suggested that different catalytic mechanisms operate depending on the type of ATPase, but the structural and energetic basis of these mechanisms remains unclear. In particular, it is not clear how the positions of the catalytic dwells influence the energy transduction. Here we show that the observed dwell positions, unidirectional rotation and movement against the applied torque are reflections of the free-energy surface of the systems. Instructively, we determine that the dwell positions do not substantially affect the stopping torque. Our results suggest that the three resting states and the pathways that connect them should not be treated equally. The current work demonstrates how the free-energy landscape determines the behaviour of different types of ATPases.