Abstract
ClpAP is an ATP-dependent protease that assembles through the association of hexameric rings of ClpA with the cylindrically-shaped protease ClpP. ClpA contains two nucleotide binding domains, termed Domain 1 (D1) or 2 (D2). We have proposed that D1 or D2 limits the rate of ClpA catalyzed polypeptide translocation when ClpP is either absent or present, respectively. Here we show that the rate of ClpA catalyzed polypeptide translocation depends on [ATPγS] in the absence of ClpP, but not in the presence of ClpP. We observe that ATPγS non-cooperatively binds to ClpA during polypeptide translocation with an apparent affinity of ~6 μM, but that introduction of ClpP shifts this affinity such that translocation is not affected. Interpreting these data with our proposed model for translocation catalyzed by ClpA vs. ClpAP suggests that ATPγS competes for binding at D1 but not at D2.