Routes of electron transfer in beef heart cytochrome c oxidase: is there a unique pathway used by all reductants?

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 301-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Crinson ◽  
P. Nicholls
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Reduction Rate ◽  
Artificial Substrates ◽  
Intramolecular Electron Transfer ◽  
State Reduction ◽  
Hydrogen Donors ◽  
Slow Turnover

Cytochrome c oxidase oxidizes several hydrogen donors, including TMPD (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine) and DMPT (2-amino-6,7-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterine), in the absence of the physiological substrate cytochrome c. Maximal enzyme turnovers with TMPD and DMPT alone are rather less than with cytochrome c, but much greater than previously reported if extrapolated to high reductant levels and (or) to 100% reduction of cytochrome a in the steady state. The presence of cytochrome c is, therefore, not necessary for substantial intramolecular electron transfer to occur in the oxidase. A direct bimolecular reduction of cytochrome a by TMPD is sufficient to account for the turnover of the enzyme. CuA may not be an essential component of the TMPD oxidase pathway. DMPT oxidation seems to occur more rapidly than the DMPT – cytochrome a reduction rate and may therefore imply mediation of CuA. Both "resting" and "pulsed" oxidases contain rapid-turnover and slow-turnover species, as determined by aerobic steady-state reduction of cytochrome a by TMPD. Only the "rapid" fraction (≈70% of the total with resting and ≈85% of the total with pulsed) is involved in turnover. We conclude that electron transfer to the a3CuB binuclear centre can occur either from cytochrome a or CuA, depending upon the redox state of the binuclear centre. Under steady-state conditions, cytochrome a and CuA may not always be in rapid equilibrium. Rapid enzyme turnover by either natural or artificial substrates may require reduction of both and two pathways of electron transfer to the a3CuB centre.Key words: cytochrome c oxidase, cytochrome a, respiration, cyanide, stopped flow.

Control of proteoliposomal cytochrome c oxidase: the partial reactions

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1135-1141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Nicholls
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cytochrome Oxidase ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Redox State ◽  
Ph Gradient ◽  
Transfer Model ◽  
State Reduction

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.

Kinetics of the cytochrome c oxidase and reductase reactions in energized and de-energized mitochondria

1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 706-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Chr. Petersen ◽  
Hans Degn ◽  
Peter Nicholls
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Oxygen Concentration ◽  
Respiration Rate ◽  
Redox State ◽  
Rat Liver Mitochondria ◽  
Excess Oxygen ◽  
Succinate Oxidation ◽  
State Reduction

1. Coupled, cytochrome-c-depleted ('stripped') rat liver mitochondria reducing oxygen in the presence of exogenous cytochrome c, with succinate or ascorbate as substrates, show marked declines in the steady-state reduction of cytochrome c in excess oxygen on addition of uncouplers. Calculated ratios of maximal turnover in the uncoupled state and in the energized state for the cytochrome c oxidase (EC 1.9.3.1) reaction lie between 3 and 6, as obtained with reconstituted oxidase-containing vesicles. The succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity in such mitochondria shows a smaller response to uncoupler than that of the oxidase.2. The respiration rates of uncoupled mitochondria oxidizing ascorbate in the presence of added cytochrome c follow a Michaelis–Menten relationship with respect to oxygen concentration, in accordance with the pattern found previously with the solubilized oxidase. But succinate oxidation tends to give nonlinear concave-upward double-reciprocal plots of respiration rate against oxygen concentration, in accordance with the pattern found previously with intact uncoupled mitochondria.3. From simultaneous measurements of cytochrome c steady-state reduction, respiration rate, and oxygen concentration during succinate oxidation under uncoupled conditions it is found that at full reduction of cytochrome c, apparent Km for oxygen is 0.9 μM and the maximal oxidase (aa3) turnover is 400 s−1 (pH 7.4, 30 °C).4. The redox state of cytochrome c in uncoupled systems reflects a simple steady state; the redox state of cytochrome c in energized systems tends towards an equilibrium condition with the terminal cytochrome a3, whose apparent potential under these conditions is more negative than that of cytochrome c.

scholarly journals Titration and steady-state behaviour of the 830 nm chromophore in cytochrome c oxidase

1982 ◽  
Vol 203 (3) ◽  
pp. 541-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Nicholls ◽  
G A Chanady
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Lag Phase ◽  
State Reduction ◽  
Cytochrome Aa3 ◽  
System A ◽  
Reducing Equivalent ◽  
State Behaviour ◽  
Copper Excess

Titration of cyanide-incubated cytochrome c oxidase (ox heart cytochrome aa3) with ferrocytochrome c or with NNN'N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine initially introduces two reducing equivalents per mol of cytochrome aa3. The first equivalent reduces the cytochrome a haem iron; the second reducing equivalent is not associated with reduction of the 830 nm chromophores (e.p.r.-detectable copper) but is probably required for reduction of the e.p.r.-undetectable copper. Excess reductant introduces a third reducing equivalent into the cyanide complex of cytochrome aa3. During steady-state respiration in the presence of cytochrome c and ascorbate, the 830 nm chromophore is almost completely oxidized. It is reduced more slowly than cytochrome a on anaerobiosis. In the presence of formate or azide, some reduction at 830 nm can be seen in the steady state; in an oxygen-pulsed system, a decrease in steady-state reduction of cytochromes c and a is associated with ab increased reduction of the 830 nm species. In the formate-inhibited system the reduction of a3 on anaerobiosis shows a lag phase, the duration of which corresponds to the time taken for the 830 nm species to be reduced. It is concluded that the e.p.r.-undetectable copper (CuD) is reduced early in the reaction sequence, whereas the detectable copper (CUD) is reduced late. The latter species is probably that responsible for reduction of the cytochrome a3 haem. The magnetic association between undetectable copper and the a3 haem may not imply capability for electron transfer, which occurs more readily between cytochrome a3 and the 830 nm species.

scholarly journals ‘CO2-ligated’ cytochrome c oxidase: characterization and comparison with the Cl- -ligated enzyme

1994 ◽  
Vol 302 (3) ◽  
pp. 821-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Moody ◽  
M Richardson ◽  
J P Spencer ◽  
U Brandt ◽  
P R Rich
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Ligand Binding ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Absorption Spectra ◽  
Intramolecular Electron Transfer ◽  
Endogenous Ligand ◽  
Binding Properties ◽  
Visible Absorption ◽  
Bovine Heart

A form of fully oxidized bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase that is induced by CO2/HCO3- is described. The ligand-binding properties of this form are similar to those of Cl(-)-ligated oxidase [Moody, Cooper and Rich (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1059, 189-207]. Both bind cyanide at a rate (0.2 M-1.s-1 at pH 6.5) intermediate between the rate of binding to the fast and slow forms of the enzyme, and binding of formate to both is almost undetectable. They are also similar in showing poor reactivity with H2O2, or with CO in the presence of O2, which, with fast oxidase, induce the formation of the ‘ferryl’ and ‘peroxy’ states respectively. However, there is a clear difference in the near-u.v./visible absorption spectra of the two forms; that induced by CO2/HCO3- has a Soret maximum at 427 nm whereas Cl(-)-ligated oxidase has a Soret maximum similar to that of fast oxidase at about 424 nm. It appears that both CO2/HCO3- and Cl- are members of a class of ligands that lowers the reactivity of the binuclear centre but does not impede intramolecular electron transfer from haem a to the binuclear centre, unlike the putative endogenous ligand responsible for slow oxidase.

Intramolecular Electron Transfer and Conformational Changes in Cytochrome c Oxidase

Biochemistry ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 496-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oloef Einarsdottir ◽  
Katy E. Georgiadis ◽  
Artur Sucheta
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Intramolecular Electron Transfer

Intramolecular electron transfer in cytochrome c oxidase: a cascade of equilibria

Biochemistry ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 31 (47) ◽  
pp. 11860-11863 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Verkhovskii ◽  
Joel E. Morgan ◽  
Marten Wikstrom
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Cytochrome C ◽  
Cytochrome C Oxidase ◽  
Intramolecular Electron Transfer
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