Work

Synchronization and Enhanced Catalysis of Mechanically Coupled Enzymes

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: We examine the stochastic dynamics of two enzymes that are mechanically coupled to each other, e.g., through an elastic substrate or a fluid medium. The enzymes undergo conformational changes during their catalytic cycle, which itself is driven by stochastic steps along a biased chemical free energy landscape. We find conditions under which the enzymes can synchronize their catalytic steps, and discover that the coupling can lead to a significant enhancement in their overall catalytic rate. Both effects can be understood as arising from a global bifurcation in the underlying dynamical system at sufficiently strong coupling. Our findings suggest that, despite their molecular scale, enzymes can be cooperative and improve their performance in metabolic clusters.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.127.208103

Authors: Jaime Agudo-Canalejo, Tunrayo Adeleke-Larodo, Pierre Illien, Ramin Golestanian

Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, University of Oxford, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, PHENIX laboratory

Language: English

Topic: stochastic dynamics and bifurcation

Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750

Funders: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council