title: Understanding the mechanism of proton movement linked to oxygen reduction in cytochrome c oxidase: lessons from other proteins.
abstract: Cytochrome c oxidase is a large intrinsic membrane protein designed to use the energy of electron transfer and oxygen reduction to pump protons across a membrane. The molecular mechanism of the energy conversion process is not understood. Other proteins with simpler, better resolved structures have been more completely defined and offer insight into possible mechanisms of proton transfer in cytochrome c oxidase. Important concepts that are illustrated by these model systems include the ideas of conformational change both close to and at a distance from the triggering event, and the formation of a transitory water-linked proton pathway during a catalytic cycle. Evidence for the applicability of these concepts to cytochrome c oxidase is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. millsden@msu.edu
authors.forename: Denise A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Shelagh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferguson-Miller
mesh_terms: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D011506:Proteins; D017494:Proton Pumps; D011522:Protons; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D010100:Oxygen