Effect of membrane potential and pH gradient on electron transfer in cytochrome oxidase

Biochemistry ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 23 (21) ◽  
pp. 4991-4997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia McGovern Moroney ◽  
Timothy A. Scholes ◽  
Peter C. Hinkle
1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1135-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nicholls

The steady-state spectroscopic behaviour and the turnover of cytochrome c oxidase incorporated into proteoliposomes have been investigated as functions of membrane potential and pH gradient. The respiration rate is almost linearly dependent on [cytochrome c2+] at high flux, but while the cytochrome a redox state is always dependent on the [cytochrome c2+] steady state, it reaches a maximum reduction level less than 100% in each case. The maximal aerobic steady-state reduction level of cytochrome a is highest in the presence of valinomycin and lowest in the presence of nigericin. The proportion of [cytochrome c2+] required to achieve 50% of maximal reduction of cytochrome a varies with the added ionophores; the apparent redox potential of cytochrome a is most positive in the fully decontrolled system (plus valinomycin and nigericin). At low levels of cytochrome a reduction, the rate of respiration is no longer a linear function of [cytochrome c2+], but is dependent upon the redox state of both cytochromes a and c. That is, proteoliposomal oxidase does not follow Smith–Conrad kinetics at low cytochrome c reduction levels, especially in the controlled states. The control of cytochrome oxidase turnover by ΔpH and by ΔΨ can be explained either by an allosteric model or by a model with reversed electron transfer between the binuclear centre and cytochrome a. Other evidence suggests that the reversed electron transfer model may be the correct one.Key words: proteoliposomes, cytochrome c, cytochrome oxidase, membrane potential, pH gradient, cytochrome a, electron transfer.


1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1128-1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nicholls ◽  
Chris E. Cooper ◽  
John M. Wrigglesworth

The control of cytochrome c oxidase incorporated into proteoliposomes has been investigated as a function of membrane potential (ΔΨ) and pH gradient (ΔpH). The oxidase generates a pH gradient (alkaline inside) and a membrane potential (negative inside) when respiring on external cytochrome c. Low levels of valinomycin collapse ΔΨ and increase ΔpH; the respiration rate decreases. High levels of valinomycin, however, decrease ΔpH as valinomycin can also act as a protonophore. Nigericin (in the absence of valinomycin) increases ΔΨ and collapses ΔpH; the respiration rate increases. On a millivolt equivalent basis ΔpH is a more effective inhibitor of activity than is ΔΨ. In the absence of any ionophores the cytochrome oxidase proteoliposomes enter a steady state, in which there are both ΔpH and ΔΨ components of control. Present and previous data suggest that the respiration rate responds in a linear way ("ohmically") to increasing ΔpH but in a nonlinear way to ΔΨ ("non-ohmically"). High levels of both ΔΨ and ΔpH do not completely inhibit turnover (maximal respiratory control values lie between 6 and 10). The controlled steady state involves the electrophoretic entry and electroneutral exit of K+ from the vesicles. A model is presented in which the enzyme responds to both ΔpH and ΔΨ components of the proton-motive force, but is more sensitive to ΔpH than to ΔΨ at an equivalent ΔμH+. The steady state of the proteoliposome system can be represented for any set of permeabilities and enzyme activity levels using the computer simulation programme Stella™.Key words: cytochrome c, cytochrome oxidase, proteoliposomes, respiratory control, modelling, valinomycin, nigericin.


1984 ◽  
Vol 217 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D Brand ◽  
S M Felber

The mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) in intact lymphocytes was calculated by measuring the distribution of radiolabelled methyltriphenylphosphonium cation. The value obtained was 120 mV. The pH gradient across the mitochondrial membrane in situ (delta pH m) was estimated to be 73 mV (1.2 pH units). Thus the electrochemical gradient of protons was about 190 mV. Addition of the mitogen concanavalin A did not alter delta psi m, showing that, if movement of Ca2+ across the inner membrane of lymphocyte mitochondria occurs when concanavalin A is added, it is accompanied by charge-compensating ion movements.


1961 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1131-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. White ◽  
G. A. Ledingham

Electron transport to oxygen in a particulate fraction from uredospores of Puccinia graminis var. tritici occurs through a series of carriers similar to those of other fungi and higher plants.Experiments with various enzyme inhibitors and measurements of the oxygen affinity of respiration have shown that cytochrome oxidase mediates the final step in the sequence of electron transfer. The enzyme was localized in a fraction sedimenting at 20,000 g and was typically inhibited by cyanide, azide, and CO-dark, the latter inhibition being light-reversible. Other enzymes present were succinic-cytochrome c reductase, DPNH- and TPNH-cytochrome c reductase, dye reductase, malic dehydrogenase, isocitric dehydrogenase, and glycerol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase. Particulates failed to oxidize DPNH unless an electron acceptor was added. An increase in the activity of several of the respiratory enzymes was noted upon spore germination.Succinic-cytochrome c reductase was only partially sensitive to Antimycin A, HOQNO, and the naphthoquinone, SN 5949. These compounds markedly inhibited a labile portion of the DPNH-cytochrome c reductase activity but had little effect on the stable activity remaining in aged particles. Menadione, but not vitamin K1, stimulated electron transfer. Antimycin A and SN 5949 virtually blocked spore respiration suggesting a "Slater-type" factor in the intact pathway of oxidation.


Nature ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 487 (7408) ◽  
pp. 514-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Lyons ◽  
David Aragão ◽  
Orla Slattery ◽  
Andrei V. Pisliakov ◽  
Tewfik Soulimane ◽  
...  

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