title: Direct localization of the 51 and 24 kDa subunits of mitochondrial complex I by three-dimensional difference imaging.
abstract: Complex I is the largest complex in the respiratory chain, and the least understood. We have determined the 3D structure of complex I from Yarrowia lipolytica lacking the flavoprotein part of the N-module, which consists of the 51 kDa (NUBM) and the 24 kDa (NUHM) subunits. The reconstruction was determined by 3D electron microscopy of single particles. A comparison to our earlier reconstruction of the complete Y. lipolytica complex I clearly assigns the two flavoprotein subunits to an outer lobe of the peripheral arm of complex I. Localizing the two subunits allowed us to fit the X-ray structure of the hydrophilic fragment of complex I from Thermus thermophilus. The fit that is most consistent with previous immuno-electron microscopic data predicts that the ubiquinone reducing catalytic center resides in the second peripheral lobe, while the 75 kDa subunit is placed near the previously seen connection between the peripheral arm and the membrane arm protrusions.
authors.affiliation: University of Vermont, College of Medicine, Department Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clason
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zickermann
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radermacher
mesh_terms: D042967:Electron Transport Complex I / Q000737:chemistry*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011487:Protein Conformation; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000032:analysis; D025062:Yarrowia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D042967:Electron Transport Complex I