The Chaperonin ATPase Cycle: Mechanism of Allosteric Switching and Movements of Substrate-Binding Domains in GroEL

Chaperonin-assisted protein folding proceeds through cycles of ATP binding and hydrolysis by the large chaperonin GroEL, which undergoes major allosteric rearrangements. Interaction between the two back-to-back seven-membered rings of GroEL plays an important role in regulating binding and release of folding substrates and of the small chaperonin GroES. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we have obtained three-dimensional reconstructions to 30 Å resolution for GroEL and GroEL–GroES complexes in the presence of ADP, ATP, and the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog, AMP-PNP. Nucleotide binding to the equatorial domains of GroEL causes large rotations of the apical domains, containing the GroES and substrate protein–binding sites. We propose a mechanism for allosteric switching and describe conformational changes that may be involved in critical steps of folding for substrates encapsulated by GroES.