Past exam of the short options paper shared by Prelims and Parts A and B of the physics course of the University of Oxford / 2016 / S12 / 3 / 2

An ATP-binding step with pseudo-first-order rate $k_{1}c$ has survival probability $S_1=e^{-k_{1}ct}$ and waiting density $P_1=-S_1^{\prime }=k_{1}c{e}^{-k_{1}ct}$. It decreases from a finite value at zero, integrates to one and has mean $1/(k_{1}c)$. Its concentration dependence suggests binding-limited waiting before the large 80-degree substep.

Two independent sequential exponential steps of rates $k_a,k_b$ give the convolutionIt begins at zero, rises to a maximum at $\log (k_a/k_b)/(k_a-k_b)$ and decays; its mean is $k_a^{-1}+k_b^{-1}$. At equal rates it becomes $k^{2}t{e}^{-kt}$. This supports at least two kinetic events during the waiting associated with the 40-degree substep, plausibly chemical transformation/product release and conformational changes. It does not uniquely identify which rate belongs to hydrolysis or a particular product: different hidden-state networks can have the same waiting distribution. Three 120-degree catalytic cycles per revolution, partitioned into 80 and 40 degrees in the assay, are consistent with three catalytic sites.