Archaeal GPN-loop GTPases involve a lock-switch-rock mechanism for GTP hydrolysis.
Korf, L., Ye, X., Vogt, M.S., Steinchen, W., Watad, M., van der Does, C., Tourte, M., Sivabalasarma, S., Albers, S.-V., Essen, L.-O.(2023) mBio 14: e0085923-e0085923
- PubMed: 37962382 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00859-23
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
7ZHF, 7ZHK - PubMed Abstract: 
GPN-loop GTPases have been found to be crucial for eukaryotic RNA polymerase II assembly and nuclear trafficking. Despite their ubiquitous occurrence in eukaryotes and archaea, the mechanism by which these GTPases mediate their function is unknown. Our study on an archaeal representative from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius showed that these dimeric GTPases undergo large-scale conformational changes upon GTP hydrolysis, which can be summarized as a lock-switch-rock mechanism. The observed requirement of Sa GPN for motility appears to be due to its large footprint on the archaeal proteome.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Chemistry, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.