title: Pathways of proton transfer in cytochrome c oxidase.
abstract: During the last few years our knowledge of the structure and function of heme copper oxidases has greatly profited from the use of site-directed mutagenesis in combination with biophysical techniques. This, together with the recently-determined crystal structures of cytochrome c oxidase, has now made it possible to design experiments aimed at targeting specific pump mechanisms. Here, we summarize results from our recent kinetic studies of electron and proton-transfer reactions in wild-type and mutant forms of cytochrome c oxidase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. These studies have made it possible to identify amino acid residues involved in proton transfer during specific reaction steps and provide a basis for discussion of mechanisms of electron and proton transfer in terminal oxidases. The results indicate that the pathway through K(I-362)/T(I-359), but not through D(I-132)/E(I-286), is used for proton transfer to a protonatable group interacting electrostatically with heme a3, i.e., upon reduction of the binuclear center. The pathway through D(I-132)/E(I-286) is used for uptake of pumped and substrate protons during the pumping steps during O2 reduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brzezinski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adelroth
mesh_terms: D004579:Electron Transport; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011522:Protons; D012242:Rhodobacter sphaeroides / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D011522:Protons; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV