The heme-copper oxidase family consists of three distinct types of terminal oxidases and is related to nitric oxide reductase.
Among aerobic prokaryotes, many different terminal oxidase complexes have been described. Sequence comparison has revealed that the aa3-type cytochrome c oxidase and the bo3-type quinol oxidase are variations on the same theme: the heme-copper oxidase. A third member of this family has recently been recognized: the cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidase. Here we give an overview, and report that nitric oxide (NO) reductase, a bc-type cytochrome involved in denitrification, shares important features with these terminal oxidases as well. Tentative structural, functional and evolutionary implications are discussed.
van der Oost
J
J
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, BioCentrum Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, The Netherlands.
de Boer
A P
AP
de Gier
J W
JW
Zumft
W G
WG
Stouthamer
A H
AH
van Spanning
R J
RJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D003300:Copper; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000145:classification; D006420:Hemeproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006420:Hemeproteins; D008667:Metalloproteins; D003300:Copper; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C020094:duroquinol oxidase; C034747:nitric-oxide reductase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV