Membrane enzyme as transducer of electric energy: mechanism of enforced conformational oscillations

Catalysis of vectorial chemical reactions by an enzyme embedded in membrane is discussed. If the enzyme can respond to an electric potential, an AC field will induce periodic changes of its conformational states. It is shown that such an enforced oscillation enables the enzyme to function as an efficient energy and signal transducer. The experimental observations leading to the above conclusion come from the electric activation of ATPases, the enzymes that hydrolyze adenosine triphosphate