title: Multiple Rieske proteins in prokaryotes: where and why?
abstract: Many microbial genomes have been sequenced in the recent years. Multiple genes encoding Rieske iron-sulfur proteins, which are subunits of cytochrome bc-type complexes or oxygenases, have been detected in many pro- and eukaryotic genomes. The diversity of substrates, co-substrates and reactions offers obvious explanations for the diversity of the low potential Rieske proteins associated with oxygenases, but the physiological significance of the multiple genes encoding high potential Rieske proteins associated with the cytochrome bc-type complexes remains elusive. For some organisms, investigations into the function of the later group of genes have been initiated. Here, we summarize recent finding on the characteristics and physiological functions of multiple high potential Rieske proteins in prokaryotes. We suggest that the existence of multiple high potential Rieske proteins in prokaryotes could be one way of allowing an organism to adapt their electron transfer chains to changing environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Institut für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie, Stefan-Meier-Strasse 19, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. Dirk.Schneider@biochemie.uni-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Christian L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011387:Prokaryotic Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007506:Iron-Sulfur Proteins; C037989:Rieske iron-sulfur protein; D014450:Electron Transport Complex III