scholarly journals New insights on the cytochrome c oxidase proton pump

1985 ◽  
Vol 227 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Thelen ◽  
P S O'Shea ◽  
A Azzi

Cytochrome c oxidase vesicles were used to show that, under appropriate experimental conditions: (1) no net deprotonation of the vesicular membrane or of the incorporated enzyme occurs during the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c; (2) the pH equilibration kinetics of a respiration-induced pH gradient across the bilayer are a simple function of the ohmic proton-conductance properties of the membrane; (3) a fairly constant stoichiometry (0.8-0.7) of the numbers of protons pumped per molecule of ferrocytochrome c oxidized, i.e. the H+/e- ratio, over a wide range of dioxygen molecules reduced (1-12) is observed.

1979 ◽  
Vol 182 (1) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
R P Casey ◽  
J B Chappell ◽  
A Azzi

We have investigated ferrocytochrome c-induced proton ejection from reconstituted cytochrome c oxidase-containing vesicles using careful control of the number of enzyme turnovers. Ferrocytochrome c caused the appearance of protons at the vesicle exterior, and this could be abolished by using a protonophore. In addition, its decay was dependent on the permeability of the vesicle membranes to protons and the number of turnovers of the oxidase. These observations indicate that the ejection of protons was the result of genuine translocation. The possibility of this translocation occurring via a Mitchellian loop as a result of the presence of a reduced hydrogen carrier contaminating the enzyme was considered and excluded. Proton-translocating activity in this reconstituted system depended critically on the ratio of enzyme to lipid used in the reconstitution process and we propose a rationale to account for this. We conclude that our data provide strong support for the proposal that cytochrome c oxidase acts as a proton pump and that approx. 0.9 H+ is excluded per ferrocytochrome c molecule oxidized.


1975 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
M T Wilson ◽  
C Greenwood ◽  
M Brunori ◽  
E Antonini

In stopped-flow experiments in which oxidized cytochrome c oxidase was mixed with ferrocytochrome c in the presence of a range of oxygen concentrations and in the absence and presence of cyanide, a fast phase, reflecting a rapid approach to an equilibrium, was observed. Within this phase, one or two molecules of ferrocytochrome were oxidized per haem group of cytochrome a, depending on the concentration of ferrocytochrome c used. The reasons for this are discussed in terms of a mechanism in which all electrons enter through cytochrome a, which, in turn, is in rapid equilibrium with a second site, identified with ‘visible’ copper (830 nm-absorbing) Cud (Beinert et al., 1971). The value of the bimolecular rate constant for the reaction between cytochromes c2+ and a3+ was between 10(6) and 10(7) M(-1)-S(-1); some variability from preparation to preparation was observed. At high ferrocytochrome c concentrations, the initial reaction of cytochrome c2+ with cytochrome a3+ could be isolated from the reaction involving the ‘visible’ copper and the stoicheiometry was found to approach one molecule of cytochrome c2+ oxidized for each molecule of cytochrome a3+ reduced. At low ferrocytochrome c concentrations, however, both sites (i.e. cytochrome a and Cud) were reduced simultaneously and the stoicheiometry of the initial reaction was closer to two molecules of cytochrome c2+ oxidized per molecule of cytochrome a reduced. The bleaching of the 830 nm band lagged behind or was simultaneous with the formation of the 605 nm band and does not depend on the cytochrome c concentration, whereas the extinction at the steady-state does. The time-course of the return of the 830 nm-absorbing species is much faster than the bleaching of the 605 nm-absorbing component, and parallels that of the turnover phase of cytochrome c2+ oxidation. Additions of cyanide to the oxidase preparations had no effect on the observed stoicheiometry or kinetics of the reduction of cytochrome a and ‘visible’ copper, but inhibited electron transfer to the other two sites, cytochrome a3 and the undetectable copper, Cuu.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1346
Author(s):  
Icksoo Lee

Numerous naturally occurring molecules have been studied for their beneficial health effects. Many compounds have received considerable attention for their potential medical uses. Among them, several substances have been found to improve mitochondrial function. This review focuses on resveratrol, (–)-epicatechin, and betaine and summarizes the published data pertaining to their effects on cytochrome c oxidase (COX) which is the terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and is considered to play an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial respiration. In a variety of experimental model systems, these compounds have been shown to improve mitochondrial biogenesis in addition to increased COX amount and/or its enzymatic activity. Given that they are inexpensive, safe in a wide range of concentrations, and effectively improve mitochondrial and COX function, these compounds could be attractive enough for possible therapeutic or health improvement strategies.


1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1114-1117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerrit H. Bomhoff ◽  
Mary Spencer

Cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) has been solubilized by use of the nonionic detergents Triton X-114 and Triton X-100, from pea cotyledon mitochondria. Optimum assay conditions were determined for the oxidation of ferrocytochrome c in air. The results indicate that the plant cytochrome c oxidase resembles mammalian preparations in its sensitivity towards ionic strength and pH of the assay buffer.


2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. A469-A469 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Siletsky ◽  
D. Zaslavsky ◽  
I. Smirnova ◽  
A. Kaulen ◽  
A. Konstantinov

FEBS Letters ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mårten Wikström ◽  
Klaas Krab

1990 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 1247-1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo G. Malmstroem

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 4961-4972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Gattermann ◽  
Stefan Retzlaff ◽  
Yan-Ling Wang ◽  
Götz Hofhaus ◽  
Jürgen Heinisch ◽  
...  

Mitochondrial iron overload in acquired idiopathic sideroblastic anemia (AISA) may be attributable to mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), because these can cause respiratory chain dysfunction, thereby impairing reduction of ferric iron (Fe3+) to ferrous iron (Fe2+). The reduced form of iron is essential to the last step of mitochondrial heme biosynthesis. It is not yet understood to which part of the respiratory chain the reduction of ferric iron is linked. In two patients with AISA we identified point mutations of mtDNA affecting the same transmembrane helix within subunit I of cytochrome c oxidase (COX I; ie, complex IV of the respiratory chain). The mutations were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. One of the mutations involves a T → C transition in nucleotide position 6742, causing an amino acid change from methionine to threonine. The other mutation is a T → C transition at nt 6721, changing isoleucine to threonine. Both amino acids are highly conserved in a wide range of species. Both mutations are heteroplasmic, ie, they establish a mixture of normal and mutated mitochondrial genomes, which is typical of disorders of mtDNA. The mutations were present in bone marrow and whole blood samples, in isolated platelets, and in granulocytes, but appeared to be absent from T and B lymphocytes purified by immunomagnetic bead separation. They were not detected in buccal mucosa cells obtained by mouthwashes and in cultured skin fibroblasts examined in one of the patients. In both patients, this pattern of involvement suggests that the mtDNA mutation occurred in a self-renewing bone marrow stem cell with myeloid determination. Identification of two point mutations with very similar location suggests that cytochrome c oxidase plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AISA. COX may be the physiologic site of iron reduction and transport through the inner mitochondrial membrane.


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