title: The onset of the deuterium isotope effect in cytochrome c oxidase.
abstract: We have investigated the dynamics of proton equilibration within the proton-transfer pathway of cytochrome c oxidase from bovine heart that is used for the transfer of both substrate and pumped protons during reaction of the reduced enzyme with oxygen (D-pathway). The kinetics of the slowest phase in the oxidation of the enzyme (the oxo-ferryl --> oxidized transition, F --> O), which is associated with proton uptake, were studied by monitoring absorbance changes at 445 nm. The rate constant of this transition, which is 800 s(-)(1) in H(2)O (at pH approximately 7.5), displayed a kinetic deuterium isotope effect of approximately 4 (i.e., the rate was approximately 200 s(-)(1) in 100% D(2)O). To investigate the kinetics of the onset of the deuterium isotope effect, fully reduced, solubilized CO-bound cytochrome c oxidase in H(2)O was mixed rapidly at a ratio of 1:5 with a D(2)O buffer saturated with oxygen. After a well-defined time period, CO was flashed off using a short laser flash. The time between mixing and flashing off CO was varied within the range 0. 04-10 s. The results show that for the bovine enzyme, the onset of the deuterium isotope effect takes place within two time windows of </=100 ms and approximately 1 s, respectively. The slow onset of the deuterium isotope effect indicates that the rate-limiting step during the F --> O transition is internal proton transfer from a site, proposed to be Glu (I-286) (R. sphaeroides amino acid residue numbering), to the binuclear center. The spontaneous equilibration of protons/deuterons with this site in the interior of the protein is slow (approximately 1 s).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, The Arrhenius Laboratories for Natural Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karpefors
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adelroth
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brzezinski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003903:Deuterium / Q000737:chemistry*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011522:Protons; D003903:Deuterium; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV