All motors have to decide is what to do with the DNA that is given them

Introduction

The ability of proteins to move directionally along nucleic acids is fundamental to many key biological processes. Perhaps best known among these molecular motors are DNA and RNA helicases. The central function shared by these motors is the coupling of the binding and hydrolysis of ATP to the translocation along and/or unwinding of single-stranded nucleic acids and double-stranded nucleic acids (1–6). Other motors use their ability to translocate along double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) to reposition nucleosomes (7–9), to transport nucleic acids into or out of viral capsids (10, 11), or to process DNA for nuclease activity (12–18).

In studies of the single-stranded (ssDNA) and dsDNA translocation activity of motor proteins, several key questions present themselves.

Firstly, what is the kinematic mechanism of translocation? The main associated descriptions are the directionality of translocation, the macroscopic translocation rate, the kinetic step-size, the physical step-size, and the processivity of translocation (19–21). The directionality of translocation is described in terms of the intrinsic polarity of the DNA molecule itself. For example, a 3′–5′ ssDNA motor translocates away from the 3′ end of the ssDNA and toward the 5′ end of the ssDNA. The directionality of dsDNA translocases is similarly specified based upon the polarity of their directional tracking along one of the strands in the duplex. The physical step-size of translocation is best considered to be the number of nucleotides or basepairs translocated by the motor for each ATP hydrolyzed. The physical (or mechanical) step-size is thus a constraint imposed by the structure of the motor itself and/or the geometry with which it binds to the DNA. The kinetic step-size, conversely, is the number of nucleotides or basepairs translocated by the motor between each rate-limiting step in its translocation cycle. Determinations of both step-sizes are required for a complete description of the mechanism of translocation. Finally, the processivity of translocation is the propensity of the motor to translocate further along the DNA rather than dissociate from it. It is usually expressed either as a ratio of the probability of forward motion to dissociation or in terms of the average number of nucleotides (or basepairs) translocated before dissocation.

Secondly, what is the efficiency of motor translocation? Efficiency is usually described in terms of the number of ATP molecules hydrolyzed per nucleotide (ssDNA) or basepair (dsDNA) translocated. Thus, it often provides an estimate of the physical step-size of translocation.

Thirdly, what are the structural intermediates of the DNA:motor complex during the translocation reaction? For example, many motors are believed to form DNA loops during translocation (22–26). By considering motor efficiency, the distinction between kinetic and physical step-sizes of the translocation mechanism can be elucidated. Finally, what can we learn about the evolutionary pressures and common structure/function motifs from the mechanisms of action of these motors?

The goal of this review is to highlight recent research in this field. With a primary focus on the unifying characteristics of recently determined DNA translocation mechanisms and their associated implications for the structure/function relationships intrinsic to this important class of enzymes.

Experimental approaches and mechanistic models

Given the importance of DNA translocation to such a wide variety of cellular function it is not surprising that a large number of assays have been developed to monitor it (Figure 1). Several of the most commonly used methods of monitoring the translocation of a motor protein are: a) measuring the arrival of the protein at a particular point along the DNA (19–24); b) detecting the displacement of obstacles from DNA by the translocating motor (25–27); c) DNA-dependent ATPase activity of the motor (18, 22, 27–31); d) translocation-induced changes in the structure/topology of the DNA (32, 33). While each approach has advantages and disadvantages, addressing the key questions typically involves a combined approach of several of these techniques.

Figure 1

Four common modes of nucleic acids strand translocases.

Image taken from ref. (5), with permission.

There are several common models for DNA translocation by molecular motors. According to the first model, commonly referred to as an inchworm or ratchet model (Figure 2) (5, 28, 34–36) coordinated sequential alterations in the binding and release of the DNA by residues within the motor propels the motor along the DNA. A modified version of this model is the Brownian ratchet in which ATP binding by the motor weakens the motor’s DNA binding affinity. This allows for a period of Brownian motion to occur before ATP hydrolysis again prompts DNA binding, albeit now with a bias toward net forward displacement of the motor along the DNA (2, 37, 38). In contrast, a purely Brownian motor would have no tendency toward directionally biased translocation along the DNA. It follows that efficient coupling of ATP hydrolysis to translocation (i.e., the hydrolysis of few ATP molecules required per nucleotide or basepair of net translocation of the motor away from its starting point) is indicative of an inchworm model, whereas inefficient coupling of ATP hydrolysis to translocation (i.e., the hydrolysis of many ATP molecules required per nucleotide or basepair of net translocation of the motor away from its starting point) is indicative of a purely Brownian motor.

Figure 2

This cartoon representation of the inchworm translocation mechanism clearly shows that the protein has at least one strong attachment to the polynucleotide track at any one time and the two binding sites (red and blue) maintain their order along the DNA. Image taken from ref. (4) with permission.

DNA translocation by DNA helicases

The fundamental distinction of DNA helicases is their ability to couple the binding and hydrolysis of nucleoside triphosphates to dsDNA unwinding (5, 6, 39–41). From there several traits are used to further categorize DNA helicases. Unidirectional translocation of DNA helicases along ssDNA has been inferred from the results of several in vitro studies demonstrating that nearly all helicases show a preference for unwinding DNA substrates possessing either a 3′ or 5′ ssDNA tail flanking the dsDNA substrate (6, 39, 41). Therefore, helicases preferring a 3′ tail are classified as 3′–5′ whereas helicases preferring a 5′ tail are classified as 5′–3′ helicases. Furthermore, helicases have been divided into six superfamilies (SF1–SF6) based on conserved sequence motifs (41–43), with a majority belonging to SF1 and SF2 (43, 42). SF1 and SF2 helicases function primarily as monomers or dimers whereas the members of SF3 through SF6 are typically hexameric rings. Most recent mechanistic studies of DNA translocation by helicases have focused on members of SF1 and SF2 and, accordingly, they will represent most of the discussion in this section. A unifying characteristic of SF1 and SF2 helicases is a conserved core of protein domains similar to the homologous recombination protein RecA (41), several of these domains are also found in members of other superfamilies (41–43).

SF1 family helicases

The UvrD helicase from Escherichia coli is a 3′–5′ SF1 DNA helicase involved in methyl-directed mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair of DNA (44). Monomers of UvrD translocate from 3′ to 5′ along ssDNA (45) hydrolyzing 1 ATP molecule for each nucleotide translocated (22, 28). This tight coupling of ATP hydrolysis to translocation is consistent with an inchworm model of ssDNA translocation by UvrD and further suggests a physical step-size of one nucleotide for this process. However, the kinetic step-size for ssDNA translocation by UvrD has been determined to be four to five nucleotides (22, 28, 45), indicating that the rate-limiting process in the translocation mechanism occurs approximately every four or five nucleotides translocated (28).

This disparity between the physical and kinetic step-sizes of translocation can be reconciled by a non-uniform stepping mechanism (22, 28). Specifically, ssDNA translocation by UvrD is believed to comprise two processes. A fast process associated with the forward translocation of the motor one nucleotide along the ssDNA and a slow process, occurring after four or five repetitions of the fast process that is rate-limiting for the overall translocation reaction. It has further been suggested that this slow process is associated with the resolution of DNA loops created by the associated faster physical translocation steps (28). This would imply that the size of these loops is on the order of four or five nucleotides.

Analysis of ensemble measurements of ssDNA translocation by UvrD at saturated ATP resulted in an estimate of (193±1) nt/s for the macroscopic rate of ssDNA translocation and an estimate that UvrD translocates (769±1) nucleotides on average before dissociating from the ssDNA (28). Estimates of 193 nt/s and 1260 nucleotides for these parameters have been obtained from the analysis of the results of single-molecule measurements of UvrD translocation (46). Furthermore, the results of these single-molecule experiments suggest that the four to five nucleotides kinetic step-size for ssDNA translocation by UvrD cannot be attributed to molecular heterogeneity within the UvrD population (46); i.e., this kinetic step-size cannot be explained by the presence of a distribution of translocation activities (rates, step-sizes, etc) for the UvrD enzymes. Indeed, the existence of such persistent molecular heterogeneity for the entire translocation process would be an example of static disorder (47, 48) and could result only if each enzyme were chemically or conformationally different over the time period of the experiment.

The PcrA helicase from Bacillus stearothermophilus is a 3′–5′ SF1 DNA helicase involved in DNA repair pathways and the rolling circle replication of some plasmids within that organism (49, 50). Monomers of PcrA have been shown to translocate from 3′ to 5′ along ssDNA (24, 30, 51, 52) with a macroscopic rate between 50 nt/s (30) and over 200 nt/s (52) depending upon the solution conditions of the experiment. Although there has been no calculation of the processivity of ssDNA translocation by PcrA it can be safely argued that the enzyme will translocate more than 50 nt on average before dissociating from the ssDNA (24, 30, 53).

Interestingly the kinetic step-size for ssDNA translocation is independent of the solution conditions of the experiment and has an average value of ∼4 nucleotides (52). However, just as for UvrD, PcrA hydrolyzes one molecule of ATP for each nucleotide it moves along the ssDNA (30) indicating that the physical step-size for ssDNA translocation is one nucleotide and thus smaller than the kinetic step-size. As before, this is consistent with a non-uniform inchworm model for ssDNA translocation by PcrA. Furthermore, it is tempting to conclude that the resolution of small ssDNA loops formed by PcrA is the rate-limiting process associated with the ∼4 nucleotide kinetic step-size. An inchworm model for ssDNA translocation by PcrA is also consistent with the observation that the products of ATP hydrolysis associated with PcrA translocation along ssDNA are released in two steps, with Pi released before ADP (54). Based on this result it has been suggested that the major transition in the structure of the PcrA:DNA complex, possibly associated with the power-stroke of the translocation mechanism (Figure 2), is associated with ADP release.

The Rep helicase from Escherichia coli is a 3′–5′ SF1 DNA helicase that is involved in replication restart (55) and is required for replication of some bacteriophages (56). Monomers of Rep are capable of translocating from 3′ to 5′ along ssDNA with a macroscopic rate that varies with solution conditions (51). At saturating ATP concentrations Rep translocates at (279±2) nt/s at low solution NaCl concentration and at (298±2) nt/s at high solution NaCl concentration (51). As an increase in the solution salt concentration would likely decrease the affinity of ssDNA binding by Rep these results suggest an inverse relationship between DNA binding affinity and translocation rate.

Interestingly, during their translocation along ssDNA UvrD, Rep and PcrA all experience a slow dissociation upon reaching the end of the DNA (22, 28, 45, 51, 52). Frequently this is associated with additional ‘futile’ ATP hydrolysis by the motor while it remains bound to the end of the DNA (i.e., ATP hydrolysis not coupled with forward translocation).

UvrD, PcrA, and Rep all contain a single ATP hydrolysis site and are capable of translocating along ssDNA as monomers. There are also SF1 helicase complexes that contain more than one ATP hydrolysis site (i.e., that contain more than one motor) because more than one complex member contains an ATP hydrolysis site (i.e., that is separately classified as a motor). A thoroughly studied example is the SF1 RecBCD DNA helicase from E. coli. RecBCD is essential for genetic recombination and has multiple activities, including dsDNA exonuclease, ssDNA exonuclease, ssDNA endonuclease, DNA-dependent ATPase, and helicase activities (57). It is composed of three subunits: RecB, RecC, and RecD. Thus, as both the RecB and RecD subunits are members of the SF1 helicase superfamily (RecD is a 5′–3′ helicase and RecB is a 3′–5′ helicase) (42) RecBCD possesses two ATP-dependent motors (58). Interestingly, the presence of these two different motors allows RecBCD to translocate along ssDNA either from 3′ to 5′ or from 5′ to 3′ (59) (see Figure 3). The rate of RecBCD translocation in the 5′–3′ direction along ssDNA is faster than the rate of translocation in the 3′–5′ direction (60); at saturating ATP concentrations this rate is (1515±33) nt/s for 3′–5′ translocation and (2037±109) nt/s for 5′–3′ translocation. There is no difference in the kinetic step-size for these two directions of RecBCD translocation and both are ∼4 nucleotides (60).

Figure 3

RecBCD is shown here as both an example of a multiple motor helicase and a model system for several key translocation concepts.

(A) The RecB motor is a 3′–5′ ssDNA translocase. If the motor binds to ssDNA then attempts to translocate into a dsDNA segment it becomes a helicase. (B) The RecD motor has similar behavior to B except it is a 3′–5′ ssDNA translocase. (C) If the RecD motor has the same translocation rate as RecB then a uniform helicase behavior would occur as shown in the lower left. If the rates differ ssDNA loops can be formed. Image from ref. (58) with permission.

Isolated monomers of RecB have been shown to translocate from 3′ to 5′ along ssDNA with a macroscopic rate of (860±53) nt/s and a kinetic step-size of (4.8±0.3) nucleotides at saturating ATP concentrations (23). Interestingly, the RecBC translocase, which contains only the single RecB motor, is also capable of 5′–3′ translocation along ssDNA (23). At saturating ATP concentrations RecBC exhibits 3′–5′ translocation with a macroscopic rate and kinetic step-size of (920±33) nt/s and (3.5±0.2) nt, respectively, and 5′–3′ translocation with a macroscopic rate of (1060±30) nt/s; when both translocase activities occur simultaneously the macroscopic rate of translocation is (671±47) nt/s. Difficulty in determining a kinetic step-size for 5′–3′ translocation by RecBC was attributed to the possible presence of non-uniform processes (pausing, backward motion, etc) that may be occurring during RecBC translocation in this direction. An additional difference between these two translocase activities is that 3′–5′ translocation is blocked by reverse polarity linkages in the DNA, but 5′–3′ translocation is not (23). Despite these differences, ATPase is tightly coupled to translocation for both translocase activities of the RecB motor (29). The coupling efficiency is (0.81±0.05) ATP/nt when the 3′–5′ primary translocase is active, (1.12±0.06) ATP/nt when the secondary 5′–3′ translocase is active, and (1.07±0.09) ATP/nt when both translocase activities are simultaneously active (29).

Monomers of RecD have been shown to translocate from 5′ to 3′ along ssDNA with a macroscopic translocation rate and ATP coupling efficiency of (95±5) nt/s and (1.03±0.14) ATP/nt, respectively (61), but a kinetic step-size for ssDNA translocation has not yet been determined.

SF1 helicases/translocases thus display the following general characteristics in their DNA translocation mechanisms: tight coupling of ATP to translocation, a physical step-size of ∼1 nucleotide, a kinetic step-size greater than one nucleotide, translocation rates on the order of hundreds of nucleotides per second and very high processivity. Furthermore, while DNA translocation by each of these motors appears most consistent with an inchworm model, the difference between the kinetic and physical step-sizes of translocation indicates that these motors likely translocate through a non-uniform process. Furthermore, this non-uniform motion may be associated with the formation and resolution of small (4–5 nucleotide) DNA loops.

DNA translocation by chromatin remodeling enzymes

Most eukaryotic DNA is packaged into nucleosomes that render these sequences largely inaccessible for transcription or repair (81, 82). Molecular motors called chromatin remodelers can relieve the inhibition of these processes by sliding or disassembling the nucleosomes (7–9) and thereby serve an essential role in the regulation of gene expression (83). Based upon their highly conserved ATPase domain chromatin remodelers are classified as part of a large Snf2 family of proteins, which in turn is part of the helicase superfamily SF2 (Figure 4) (84, 85). Chromatin remodelers lack helicase activity (86), but they share the ATP-dependent DNA translocation activity of helicases (27, 87–90). Furthermore, nucleosome repositioning activity is underpinned by DNA translocation in most models (85, 91–95). Qualitative demonstrations of DNA translocation by chromatin remodelers, have recently been extended by quantitative determinations of the kinetic mechanism of translocation (87, 88, 96, 97).

Figure 4

This hierarchical grouping of helicase-like proteins shows how even an abbreviated list of the common helicase-like proteins hints at the highly diverse behaviors found within the translocase umbrella. Image taken from ref. (85) with permission.

The RSC chromatin remodeling complex is a member of the SWI/SNF family of chromatin remodelers and is capable of repositioning nucleosomes from the center of DNA fragments toward the ends without disrupting the integrity of the nucleosomes (98, 99). Recently both ensemble and single-molecule measurements have independently demonstrated that the motor subunit of RSC is a poorly processive dsDNA translocase (27, 32, 100), as it moves fewer than 40 basepairs, on average before dissociating from the DNA. The macroscopic translocation rate and kinetic step-size for RSC motor translocation were determined in ensemble studies to be (2.9±0.1) bp/s and (1.24±0.18) basepairs, respectively (27). Combined with the results of these same studies indicating a coupling efficiency of (3.0±0.4) ATP/bp, a physical step-size of approximately three basepairs is indicated. The disparity between the kinetic and physical step-sizes indicates that RSC likely translocates along dsDNA according to a non-uniform stepping model (27). However, unlike the previously discussed non-uniform mechanisms for UvrD and Rep, for RSC the physical step size is larger than the kinetic step-size.

Indeed, a physical step-size larger than a kinetic step-size suggests that futile ATP hydrolysis occurs during dsDNA translocation by RSC. Furthermore, this futile hydrolysis might simply result from the fact that RSC is more prone to dissociate from the DNA during translocation than SF1 helicases such as UvrD and Rep. While this might be a trivial consequence of differences in the allosteric regulation of DNA binding by ATP binding for these motors, it may indicate a difference in the timescales associated with the physical processes associated with translocation. Indicating RSC may spend a larger fraction of its translocation cycle in a state with lower DNA binding affinity than other motors, such as UvrD and Rep. Consistent with this hypothesis is the observation that the macroscopic rate of DNA translocation by RSC is at least an order of magnitude smaller than that of UvrD or Rep.

RSC’s core translocation motor has been utilized in single-molecule experiments combining the tethering of the motor to the DNA and optical tweezers to measure the forces involved in translocation. From this a macroscopic rate of ∼25 bp/s and kinetic step-size of ∼2 basepairs were measured (32). Interestingly, these results also indicated that during translocation the RSC motor typically forms dsDNA loops of a few basepairs. This provides further evidence for a non-uniform translocation mechanism for the RSC motor (27). Additionally, the single-molecule experiments uncovered a tendency to occasionally form loops of ∼30 basepairs (32). This result provides support for the model that DNA loops are a fundamental intermediate in the nucleosome repositioning activity of RSC (32, 87, 90, 101). Furthermore, the affinity of dsDNA binding by the RSC motor is reduced in the presence of both ADP and ATP analogs (102). The reduction in affinity during the ATPase portion of the translocation cycle, may account for the poor processivity of dsDNA translocation by the RSC motor (27, 32). RSC’s poor processivity may underlay its physical step-size for dsDNA translocation being larger than the corresponding kinetic step-size.

When the RSC core motor is in its full complex it exhibits a macroscopic translocation rate of ∼13 bp/s and is capable of creating dsDNA loops with an average size of ∼100 basepairs (90). Interestingly, a slow mandatory initiation process following dsDNA binding is observed before DNA translocation begins (27, 100); it should be noted that it is still unclear if this process was ATP-dependent or represented an ATP-independent conformational change following DNA binding by RSC. A multi-step DNA binding mechanism may be a common theme in all translocases, as it has also been found in the ISW2 chromatin remodeler (103), the human polymerase β (104, 105), and several helicases (24, 75, 106–108).

While the mechanisms of DNA translocation of few chromatin remodelers have been determined, it is nevertheless important to note the similarities to other SF2 family translocases. Specifically, these motors all exhibit show rates of translocation (tens of basepairs or nucleotides per second) and very poor processivity.

DNA translocation by restriction enzymes

Type I DNA restriction/modification enzymes are members of the Snf2 family of SF2 helicases (see Figure 4) and cleave specific unmethylated DNA sequences (12, 13). The cleavage reaction begins with the recognition of the unmethylated target sequence by the complex’s methyltransferase core enzyme (12, 13). Initial binding is subsequently followed by ATP-dependent dsDNA translocation, performed by the two HsdR complex subunits, which pulls DNA toward the core enzyme and forming two dsDNA loops (109, 110). The translocating subunits then conduct the cleavage reaction upon encountering a blockage on the DNA, including encountering a second restriction enzyme (111).

The type I DNA restriction/modification enzyme EcoR124I is capable of translocating along dsDNA with an average macroscopic rate of (550±30) bp/s (110). EcoR124I is also highly processive as it is capable of translocating an average of (4300±900) basepairs before dissociation (110). During its processive translocation along dsDNA EcoR124I consumes ∼1 ATP per basepair, indicating that the physical step-size of translocation is ∼1 basepair, and moves with a kinetic step-size of 1.9±0.6 basepairs (112). Both the tight coupling of ATP hydrolysis to translocation and the high processivity of translocation suggest an inchworm mechanism for DNA translocation by EcoR124I. The small difference between the physical and kinetic step-sizes may indicate that EcoR124I also experiences non-uniform translocation.

DNA translocation by viral packaging motors

Bacteriophages and herpesviruses encode a DNA translocase that is responsible for packaging the viral genome into the preformed capshid shell or prohead (10). These translocases, called terminases, are capable of ATP-dependent dsDNA translocation against high force (10) in order to compact the genome to near-crystalline density (11).

Bacteriophage lambda is a dsDNA virus that infects E. coli (113). Lambda utilizes rolling circle DNA replication resulting in concatemers (i.e., long linear DNA). Lambda terminase is then responsible for packing the concatemer into the viral capsid (113). During the packaging reaction lambda terminase translocates along the double-stranded viral DNA in an ATP-dependent reaction (114) with a macroscopic rate and kinetic step-size of (119±8) bp/s and (410±150) basepairs at 4°C and saturating ATP concentration (115). It is further argued that the kinetic step-size is not a physical step-size, but rather corresponds to periodic pausing by lambda terminase during the packaging reaction (115). In other words, lambda terminase also experiences non-uniform translocation. Indeed, pausing in the packaging reaction were also detected in single-molecule based experiments (33), which also reported a macroscopic translocation rate of ∼600 bp/s at 23°C (115). The macroscopic translocation rate was shown to decrease throughout the packaging reaction as increasing resistive force was built up by the packaged DNA within the interior of the capsid (33).

The macroscopic rate of DNA translocation by the Bacillus subtilis phage φ29 packaging motor also decreases during the course of the packaging reaction (116). However, the maximum rate observed at the start of the reaction, ∼100 bp/s (116), is much slower than the rate observed for bacteriophage lambda terminase (115) under similar conditions. Similar to what is observed with bacteriophage lambda terminase, frequent pausing is observed during the packaging of the phage φ29 genome (116) suggesting a related mechanism of packaging by both motors. The rate of packaging by the phage φ29 packaging motor has also been shown to be significantly affected by ionic screening, indicating the importance of electrostatic repulsing during the packaging reaction (117), and furthermore an ATP coupling efficiency of 0.5 ATP/bp has been determined for this motor (118).

DNA translocation by other motors

The Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a key regulator of mitosis, meiosis and cytokinesis in vertebrates (119). The Plk1-interacting checkpoint helicase (PICH) is an Snf2 family SF2 helicase (see Figure 4) that controls the localization of Plk1 and serves as an essential component of mitotic checkpoint signaling (120). The macroscopic rate of translocation of PICH along dsDNA is dependent upon the concentration of NaCl and varies from ∼22 bp/s at low NaCl concentration to ∼30 bp/s at high NaCl concentration (121). As the affinity of PICH for binding DNA decreases as the concentration of NaCl in solution increases (121), it is possible that, similar to what is observed with the SF2 helicase NS3h (71), an allosteric and compensatory relationship between the affinity of nucleic acid binding and the macroscopic rate of nucleic acid translocation exists for PICH.

The ability of E. coli FtsK to translocate along dsDNA enables the enzyme to pump chromosomal DNA through the closing septum during cell division (122). FtsK is not classified as a member of any helicase family, but is a member of the large AAA+ superfamily (123) of proteins, which also includes helicases; FtsK is specifically a member of the SpoIIIE/FtsK family of AAA+ proteins, which includes many membrane-anchored DNA translocases responsible for chromosome separation in bacteria (123, 124). FtsK is a remarkable dsDNA translocase in that it exhibits macroscopic translocation rates on the order of 5–8 kb/s (125–127) and corresponding very high processivities. Although neither a kinetic step-size nor ATP coupling efficiency for dsDNA translocation by FtsK has been determined, several DNA sequences that control the direction of FtsK translocation have been identified (128, 129).

Conclusion

We see the trend of new results continuing to confirm that conserved sequence motifs, traditionally described as helicase motifs, should more accurately be referred to as DNA helicase/translocase motifs as they are found across a wide variety of DNA translocases, including those which display no helicase activity. This trend has been previously discussed (35), but we would like to reinforce that the evidence is growing and the general thinking of the topic should shift to reflect the evidence. Within this context it is import to recognize that many translocases within the larger ‘helicase’ family of motor proteins share a variety of common structure/function relationships and mechanistic themes that bear further elucidation. An important example, is the relation between members of SF1 and SF2 as both have been observed to translocate along DNA with coupling efficiencies ∼1 or 2 ATP/nt or ATP/bp, but SF1 translocases generally have much higher macroscopic translocation rates and are much more processive than SF2 translocases. The similar coupling efficiencies are, perhaps, to be expected given the common structural elements possessed by these different motors (indeed, this is the basis for their common classification); however the origin of the differences in rate and processivity is not immediately clear. One possibility is that the difference in the effect of ATP/ADP allosterically regulated binding to DNA provides an underlying behavioral shift between members of SF1 and SF2 that accounts for some of the disparities in rate and processivity between members of these groups. More complete and comprehensive studies of the mechanisms of DNA binding by these motors are required to test such a hypothesis. Similarly, additional structural and computational modeling work is necessary to determine if there is an inherent mechanical difference in the physical interactions of these motors with DNA that accounts for the variance in their translocation abilities. For example, perhaps the SF2 translocases simply spend more time during their translocation cycle in states with lower DNA affinity than SF1 helicases.

Such systematic studies of DNA binding, especially when performed under a variety of solution conditions and coupled with associated determinations of the macroscopic rate and ATP coupling efficiency of DNA translocation, would enable us to test the universality of the apparent inverse relationship between translocation rate and DNA binding affinity. As all helicases/translocases use a similar domain as their mechanism for energy transduction during translocation it is not surprising that all of these motors might share a common fundamental physical step-size and ATP coupling efficiency for tanslocation. It is then possible that this mechanism also provides a mechanical constraint that creates the inverse proportionality between rate and affinity.

Another common, and perhaps universal, theme of DNA translocation shared by SF1 and SF2 motors is that they translocate along DNA with a non-uniform mechanism that is likely associated with the formation of DNA loops. While it is not known if the formation of ssDNA loops by SF1 helicases during their translocation has any implications for their activity in vivo, dsDNA loop formation by chromatin remodelers and restriction enzymes is an integral part of their function. It is tempting to speculate on the implications of these observations for understanding the evolutionary origin of these motors. Loop formation may well be a simple and potentially initially innocuous consequence of the structural changes occurring within the motor as it translocates along the DNA. Eventually this inherent result of DNA translocation might have then been integrated into a variety of cellular activities.

Similarly, a common theme in the determined mechanisms of DNA translocation is the occurrence of additional slow processes, possibly associated with the initiation of translocation or a multi-step dissociation from the end of the DNA. It is worth noting that a two-step mechanism of DNA binding is also common among these motors, although few complete characterizations of DNA binding by translocases have been completed. Perhaps the results of these two sets of experiments (translocation and binding) are sensitive to the same mechanical process? A thorough combined determination of the mechanisms of DNA binding and translocation by these motors is required to test the validity of this speculation. Of course, such binding studies should also be organized to identify the allosteric regulation of the mechanisms of DNA binding by ATP/ADP binding as this would complete the equilibrium DNA binding experiments discussed above.